District of Columbia

Cost of a Abscess Drainage Visit
in District of Columbia

Name: Abscess Drainage (I&D) Cost in District of Columbia (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-18

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

District of Columbia maintains one of the nation's highest physician-to-patient ratios, with concentrated medical resources serving both local residents and regional patients seeking specialized care. Abscess Drainage procedures in DC typically range from $75.60 to $346.25, with a median cost of $161.56 based on negotiated insurance rates. With over 360 active Abscess Drainage providers throughout the District, patients have extensive options for both emergency and scheduled drainage procedures.

Average

$194

Median

$162

Lowest

$76

Highest

$346

Providers

360

National avg: $180District of Columbia: $194

8% above national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does abscess drainage (i&d) compare to related procedures in District of Columbia?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
Skin Biopsy Tangential biopsy of skin	11102	$34	$97	$250	337
Joint Injection Injection into a major joint or bursa	20610	$40	$88	$221	364
Blood Draw (Venipuncture) Routine venipuncture for blood sample	36415	$1	$4	$80	379

Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.

The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 10060 — Incision and drainage of abscess, simple). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.

Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.

This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.

Where this data comes from & what CPT 10060 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 10060 (Incision and drainage of abscess, simple), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 10060 covers: the provider's professional fee for abscess drainage (i&d). It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.

How to read this data

Negotiated Rate

The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.

P5, Median, P95

P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.

What this does not tell you

These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.

Full data methodology and glossary

Why Abscess Drainage Visit Costs Vary Across District of Columbia

District of Columbia's healthcare costs run approximately 20% above national averages, reflecting the region's high cost of living and concentration of academic medical centers. The District's unique status as a federal enclave creates a healthcare market that serves both local residents and draws patients from surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

As a compact urban jurisdiction, District of Columbia has exceptional provider density with most medical facilities concentrated in the Northwest quadrant near major hospitals. The city's small geographic footprint means patients rarely travel more than 20 minutes to reach specialized care, unlike residents of surrounding suburban areas. However, this concentration can create scheduling bottlenecks during peak demand periods.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Major academic medical centers like George Washington University Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital typically charge premium rates due to teaching hospital overhead and research facility costs. Independent urgent care centers and dermatology practices throughout the District often provide more competitive pricing for routine abscess drainage procedures. The prevalence of government and nonprofit healthcare facilities helps moderate overall market pricing.

Insurance Market Competition in District of Columbia

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield maintains dominant market share in DC, with United Healthcare and Aetna providing meaningful competition primarily in the federal employee and individual markets. This concentrated market structure gives major insurers significant negotiating power with providers, helping to moderate rate increases. The federal government's large employee presence influences plan offerings and network adequacy requirements.

Physician Supply and Demand in District of Columbia

With 360 active providers offering abscess drainage procedures, District of Columbia has robust supply relative to its population of approximately 700,000 residents. This high provider-to-patient ratio typically supports competitive pricing and shorter wait times for non-emergency procedures. The concentration of medical schools and residency programs in the area helps maintain adequate physician supply across specialties.

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Jayant Panwar

CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA

Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.

The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Abscess Drainage Costs in District of Columbia

What is the average cost of a Abscess Drainage visit in District of Columbia without insurance?

Without insurance, abscess drainage procedures in District of Columbia typically cost between $75.60 and $346.25, with a median cost of $161.56 based on negotiated insurance rates. Self-pay patients may qualify for discounts of 20-40% at many facilities, bringing costs down significantly. Emergency drainage procedures at hospital emergency departments will likely cost considerably more than these outpatient rates.

Does District of Columbia Medicaid cover Abscess Drainage visits?

Yes, DC Medicaid covers medically necessary abscess drainage procedures through its expanded Medicaid program. Coverage includes the drainage procedure itself, local anesthesia, wound packing materials, and follow-up visits for wound care. Patients may need prior authorization for certain procedures, and some managed care plans require referrals from primary care providers for non-emergency drainage.

How do I find an affordable Abscess Drainage near me in District of Columbia?

Compare costs across different facility types, as independent urgent care centers and dermatology practices often charge less than hospital-based clinics. Ask about self-pay discounts if you're uninsured, and consider community health centers that offer sliding-scale fees. Unity Health Care and other federally qualified health centers in DC provide drainage procedures on an income-based pricing structure.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Initial abscess drainage procedures typically cost $75.60 to $346.25 in District of Columbia, while follow-up visits for wound checks and packing changes are generally much less expensive. Many providers include one or two follow-up visits in the initial procedure cost, especially for simple drainage procedures. Complex cases requiring multiple drainage sessions or specialty wound care may incur additional charges for each subsequent visit.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Abscess Drainage visit in District of Columbia?

Yes, abscess drainage procedures qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts. This includes the procedure cost, associated laboratory tests, prescription medications, and follow-up wound care supplies. Keep all receipts and documentation for reimbursement, including any over-the-counter wound care products recommended by your provider.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Abscess Drainage in District of Columbia?

While abscess drainage requires in-person treatment, telemedicine consultations can help determine if drainage is necessary and potentially save costs on unnecessary office visits. Many DC providers offer virtual follow-up appointments for wound monitoring at reduced rates compared to in-office visits. Initial consultations via telehealth typically cost $50-100 less than in-person visits, though the actual drainage procedure must be performed in a clinical setting.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$92

$317

Office visit (CPT 10060)

Compare With Other States

Rank	State	Average↓	Min⇅	Max⇅	Providers⇅
1	Wisconsin(WI) Range: $73 – $779	$317	$73	$779	7,190
2	North Dakota(ND) Range: $80 – $611	$277	$80	$611	58
3	Iowa(IA) Range: $85 – $502	$267	$85	$502	624
4	Minnesota(MN) Range: $80 – $540	$256	$80	$540	733
5	Massachusetts(MA) Range: $80 – $464	$237	$80	$464	1,389
6	Rhode Island(RI) Range: $80 – $464	$237	$80	$464	88
7	Illinois(IL) Range: $80 – $459	$230	$80	$459	9,075
8	Connecticut(CT) Range: $80 – $464	$230	$80	$464	448
9	Nebraska(NE) Range: $119 – $308	$228	$119	$308	2,198
10	New York(NY) Range: $81 – $464	$227	$81	$464	31,147
11	Delaware(DE) Range: $76 – $464	$219	$76	$464	100
12	Pennsylvania(PA) Range: $73 – $464	$219	$73	$464	1,455
13	Michigan(MI) Range: $80 – $464	$216	$80	$464	2,466
14	West Virginia(WV) Range: $80 – $456	$216	$80	$456	141
15	New Hampshire(NH) Range: $112 – $303	$214	$112	$303	3,686
16	Indiana(IN) Range: $80 – $456	$210	$80	$456	651
17	Georgia(GA) Range: $83 – $397	$209	$83	$397	3,461
18	Wyoming(WY) Range: $80 – $372	$206	$80	$372	189
19	Maine(ME) Range: $126 – $254	$200	$126	$254	1,552
20	Oregon(OR) Range: $80 – $387	$195	$80	$387	418
21	District of Columbia(DC) Range: $76 – $346	$194	$76	$346	360
22	Washington(WA) Range: $80 – $324	$182	$80	$324	4,526
23	South Dakota(SD) Range: $83 – $309	$178	$83	$309	68
24	Vermont(VT) Range: $95 – $290	$178	$95	$290	340
25	New Mexico(NM) Range: $85 – $274	$172	$85	$274	1,264
26	Alaska(AK) Range: $80 – $348	$169	$80	$348	383
27	Colorado(CO) Range: $62 – $309	$168	$62	$309	1,617
28	North Carolina(NC) Range: $77 – $297	$168	$77	$297	2,542
29	Utah(UT) Range: $40 – $278	$168	$40	$278	421
30	Kentucky(KY) Range: $80 – $308	$167	$80	$308	271
31	Hawaii(HI) Range: $80 – $308	$166	$80	$308	98
32	Montana(MT) Range: $80 – $308	$156	$80	$308	314
33	Idaho(ID) Range: $80 – $289	$155	$80	$289	218
34	New Jersey(NJ) Range: $44 – $306	$151	$44	$306	6,608
35	Arkansas(AR) Range: $85 – $224	$149	$85	$224	129
36	Maryland(MD) Range: $71 – $254	$145	$71	$254	4,075
37	Texas(TX) Range: $80 – $233	$142	$80	$233	9,771
38	Virginia(VA) Range: $67 – $244	$140	$67	$244	2,969
39	South Carolina(SC) Range: $80 – $232	$140	$80	$232	1,417
40	Oklahoma(OK) Range: $79 – $227	$137	$79	$227	1,113
41	Tennessee(TN) Range: $83 – $204	$135	$83	$204	2,536
42	Louisiana(LA) Range: $76 – $211	$132	$76	$211	943
43	Missouri(MO) Range: $81 – $178	$131	$81	$178	5,522
44	Kansas(KS) Range: $88 – $177	$129	$88	$177	1,829
45	Alabama(AL) Range: $76 – $203	$127	$76	$203	2,685
46	Ohio(OH) Range: $63 – $206	$124	$63	$206	4,671
47	Arizona(AZ) Range: $80 – $192	$124	$80	$192	5,591
48	Mississippi(MS) Range: $79 – $187	$124	$79	$187	1,303
49	California(CA) Range: $15 – $264	$122	$15	$264	14,233
50	Nevada(NV) Range: $30 – $189	$102	$30	$189	2,772
51	Florida(FL) Range: $35 – $187	$92	$35	$187	5,397