Transparent by design
How we compare published cash prices.
A low number is useful only when the underlying services are comparable. We retain the billing code, care setting, billing class, source description, source date, and observed price variants behind every result.
Where prices come from
Hospitals publish machine-readable price-transparency files. CashPayPatient extracts positive discounted-cash amounts from those files and presents them as research information. We do not invent, estimate, or negotiate the displayed amount.
What earns a comparable label
A result must use the exact requested CPT or HCPCS code, represent an outpatient facility charge, contain one observed cash amount, have a quality score of at least 90, and fall between $1 and $100,000. Results that do not meet every rule remain visible as informational or needing review, but they are not used to identify the lowest comparable price.
What a price may exclude
A hospital facility amount may exclude the physician, anesthesia, pathology, radiology interpretation, implants, drugs, supplies, or other services. The same billing code can also be delivered in materially different clinical circumstances. Always request a written, complete estimate from the provider.
Distance and geography
Distance is calculated between locally stored ZIP-code centroids and facility coordinates. It is a straight-line estimate, not drive time. Search radius affects which facilities appear; it does not change the underlying price.
Freshness and corrections
Source and serving dates appear on facility and result details. Hospital files can be corrected, replaced, or interpreted differently over time. If a provider quotes a different amount, send us the details so the discrepancy can be reviewed.
What CashPayPatient does not do
CashPayPatient does not provide medical advice, recommend a provider, guarantee eligibility for a discount, or produce a binding estimate. In an emergency, seek care immediately rather than delaying to compare prices.