Guide to Hospital Prices in Riverside-San Bernardino
Cash prices for hospital procedures in Riverside-San Bernardino vary by up to 38.3x, ranging from $2,491 to $95,466 for a total knee replacement.
Written by FairVisitHealth Editorial Team · Healthcare Pricing Analysts
Reviewed by the FairVisitHealth Editorial Team (Pricing & Billing Data Review). Not medical advice. Data sourced from CMS, HRSA, and hospital price transparency filings.
Key Takeaways
- Total knee replacement cash prices in Riverside-San Bernardino range from $2,491 to $95,466 across six local hospitals.
- Basic metabolic panel cash rates span from $12 to $373 across eight reporting facilities.
- Upper GI endoscopy cash rates range from $424 to $11,812 across five hospitals in the region.
- Federal rules require hospitals to publish cash prices for at least 300 shoppable medical services.
Headline Findings for Hospital Prices in Riverside-San Bernardino
Cash prices for a total knee replacement in Riverside-San Bernardino range from $2,491 at St Bernardine Medical Center to $95,466 at Jfk Memorial Hospital. That difference represents a 38.3x spread according to FairVisitHealth price data. The regional median cash price for joint replacement surgery sits at $14,172 across six reporting facilities. Similar pricing gaps appear across Inland Empire hospitals for routine lab tests, imaging, and outpatient procedures. You can look up cash rates across local facilities on FairVisitHealth before scheduling care.
Source: FairVisitHealth price data (2026)
Hospital Prices in Riverside-San Bernardino, CA
Hospital cash rates in Riverside and San Bernardino counties vary widely between nearby facilities for the exact same medical procedure code. Federal law under 45 CFR § 180.50 requires hospitals to publish standard charges in machine-readable files, per the electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Additionally, federal rules at 45 CFR Part 180 mandate consumer price tools for at least 300 shoppable medical services.
Source: FairVisitHealth price data (2026)
| Procedure (CPT) | Hospitals | Lowest cash price | Median | Highest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement (27447) | 6 | $2,491 | $14,172 | $95,466 | 38.3x |
| Basic metabolic panel (80048) | 8 | $12 | $216 | $373 | 32.1x |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy (43239) | 5 | $424 | $7,450 | $11,812 | 27.9x |
| Urinalysis with microscopy (81001) | 5 | $15 | $107 | $247 | 16.4x |
| Transforaminal epidural injection (64483) | 7 | $247 | $2,336 | $3,105 | 12.6x |
| MRI brain without contrast (70551) | 8 | $938 | $4,508 | $7,091 | 7.6x |
| Diagnostic colonoscopy (45378) | 7 | $1,391 | $5,522 | $9,848 | 7.1x |
| MRI knee or other lower joint (73721) | 5 | $1,323 | $2,856 | $5,318 | 4x |
| Colonoscopy with biopsy (45380) | 5 | $3,650 | $7,191 | $11,662 | 3.2x |
| Hospital (Riverside-San Bernardino, CA, Total knee replacement 27447) | Cash price | Negotiated median (3+ payers) | Gross charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Bernardine Medical Center | $2,491 | n/a | $28,746 |
| St Mary Medical Center | $2,563 | n/a | $24,116 |
| Community Hospital Of San Bernardino | $2,682 | n/a | $28,557 |
| Temecula Valley Hospital | $25,663 | n/a | n/a |
| Desert Regional Medical Center | $93,253 | n/a | n/a |
| Jfk Memorial Hospital | $95,466 | n/a | n/a |
What Price Spreads Mean for Self-Pay Patients
Wide price spreads mean self-pay patients in the Inland Empire pay drastically different amounts depending on where they get treated. For example, a total knee replacement at Jfk Memorial Hospital carries a cash price of $95,466, according to FairVisitHealth price data. That same procedure costs $2,491 at St Bernardine Medical Center. Outpatient surgical procedures show similar price swings. An upper GI endoscopy with biopsy costs $424 at St Bernardine Medical Center compared to $11,812 at Desert Regional Medical Center.
Source: FairVisitHealth price data (2026)
Routine blood work and diagnostic imaging follow the same pattern. Transforaminal epidural injections run from $247 at St Mary Medical Center to $3,105 at Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern California. Loma Linda University Medical Center lists $373 for a basic metabolic panel. Vibra Hospital of San Bernardino charges $12 for that same lab test. Brain MRIs also vary by location. Vibra Hospital of San Bernardino lists $938 for an uncontrasted brain MRI. Loma Linda University Medical Center-murrieta charges $7,091 for the scan.
Commercial insurance prices reflect similar gaps. A study from the RAND Corporation found commercial plans paid 254 percent of Medicare rates for hospital services in 2022. Policy research from KFF confirms commercial rates average double Medicare payments across national studies. Patients paying directly without insurance absorb full chargemaster rates unless they secure cash discounts in advance. Understanding how cash prices work helps patients compare hospital quotes before booking.
How to Use Hospital Price Transparency Numbers
Patients can use hospital price transparency numbers to negotiate direct cash discounts and avoid inflated medical bills before receiving care. Comparing hospital price disclosures requires a few clear steps before your appointment:
Source: FairVisitHealth price data (2026)
- Request the cash price by specific CPT code. Asking for generic procedure quotes often yields high chargemaster list prices rather than cash discounts.
- Request a written Good Faith Estimate prior to treatment. Under 45 CFR § 149.610, facilities must provide uninsured patients a written price estimate before scheduled care.
- Compare local hospital quotes against regional medians. Checking facility rates against area medians reveals whether a provider charges reasonable market rates.
- Reference published price disclosures during billing conversations. Bringing public price data to the hospital billing office provides clear evidence during discount discussions.
You can look up published cash rates across Inland Empire healthcare providers on FairVisitHealth before booking care. Reading our hospital price transparency guide explains how to read complex facility price sheets. Patients facing unexpected medical charges can also explore medical bill negotiation options to address unpaid invoices.
Methodology
This report analyzes hospital price data extracted from machine-readable files posted on October 12, 2026. The dataset evaluates the disclosed cash price field for each procedure code across reporting Inland Empire facilities. Regional medians reflect deduplicated facility names across local ZIP code prefixes. Procedure comparisons require price disclosures from five or more local hospitals. Price spreads represent the highest cash price divided by the lowest cash price. The underlying dataset contains 146 hospital-disclosed price rows across 11 named facilities from FairVisitHealth price data.
Source: FairVisitHealth price data (2026)
Limitations
Public hospital price files contain snapshot data that may change without notice. Published rates reflect facility fees only and exclude separate charges from attending doctors or anesthesiologists. Unusually low numbers in public files can represent technical fees rather than total procedure costs. Hospital billing departments update their pricing schedules on varying timelines.
Download the Data
You can download the full dataset of 146 hospital price rows across 11 local facilities directly from our public repository. The raw data is published in the FairVisitHealth price data file under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a hospital stay cost without insurance in Riverside?
A hospital stay without insurance in Riverside depends on the specific procedures performed and the facility selected. Published cash rates for major inpatient procedures like total knee replacements range from $2,491 at St Bernardine Medical Center to $95,466 at Jfk Memorial Hospital, according to FairVisitHealth price data. Uninsured patients receive facility bills that combine daily room rates with individual diagnostic, surgical, and pharmacy charges.
Where can I find cash prices for procedures at San Bernardino hospitals?
Cash prices for San Bernardino hospitals appear in machine-readable files posted on facility websites under federal price transparency laws. You can also compare aggregated self-pay cash rates across local hospitals using FairVisitHealth. Reviewing published price files before receiving care allows self-pay patients to identify cost differences across nearby facilities.
How do I request a Good Faith Estimate from an Inland Empire hospital?
You can request a Good Faith Estimate directly from the billing department of any Inland Empire hospital prior to care. Federal rules under 45 CFR § 149.610 require healthcare providers to furnish a written price estimate at least one business day before scheduled care. The Good Faith Estimate must detail expected billing codes, facility fees, and associated clinical charges.
Why do negotiated insurance rates vary between local hospitals?
Negotiated insurance rates vary between local hospitals because commercial health plans establish private payment contracts with each health system independently. Contracted prices reflect health system size, market concentration, and facility bargaining power rather than actual care delivery costs. According to research from KFF, commercial negotiated rates across US hospitals average double Medicare reimbursement rates, with wide variations between neighboring facilities.
How do hospital chargemaster prices compare to cash pay rates in San Bernardino?
Chargemaster list prices represent full list charges and usually exceed self-pay cash rates in San Bernardino hospitals. St Bernardine Medical Center lists a gross charge of $28,746 for a total knee replacement but offers a cash price of $2,491, according to FairVisitHealth price data. Cash rates represent pre-established discounts offered to patients paying directly without commercial insurance claims.
Related Cost Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a hospital stay cost without insurance in Riverside?
A hospital stay without insurance in Riverside depends on the specific procedures performed and the facility selected. Published cash rates for major inpatient procedures like total knee replacements range from $2,491 at St Bernardine Medical Center to $95,466 at Jfk Memorial Hospital, according to FairVisitHealth price data. Uninsured patients receive facility bills that combine daily room rates with individual diagnostic, surgical, and pharmacy charges.
Where can I find cash prices for procedures at San Bernardino hospitals?
Cash prices for San Bernardino hospitals appear in machine-readable files posted on facility websites under federal price transparency laws. You can also compare aggregated self-pay cash rates across local hospitals using FairVisitHealth. Reviewing published price files before receiving care allows self-pay patients to identify cost differences across nearby facilities.
How do I request a Good Faith Estimate from an Inland Empire hospital?
You can request a Good Faith Estimate directly from the billing department of any Inland Empire hospital prior to care. Federal rules under 45 CFR § 149.610 require healthcare providers to furnish a written price estimate at least one business day before scheduled care. The Good Faith Estimate must detail expected billing codes, facility fees, and associated clinical charges.
Why do negotiated insurance rates vary between local hospitals?
Negotiated insurance rates vary between local hospitals because commercial health plans establish private payment contracts with each health system independently. Contracted prices reflect health system size, market concentration, and facility bargaining power rather than actual care delivery costs. According to research from KFF, commercial negotiated rates across US hospitals average double Medicare reimbursement rates, with wide variations between neighboring facilities.
How do hospital chargemaster prices compare to cash pay rates in San Bernardino?
Chargemaster list prices represent full list charges and usually exceed self-pay cash rates in San Bernardino hospitals. St Bernardine Medical Center lists a gross charge of $28,746 for a total knee replacement but offers a cash price of $2,491, according to FairVisitHealth price data. Cash rates represent pre-established discounts offered to patients paying directly without commercial insurance claims.
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