Cost of a Appendectomy Visit
in Arkansas
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Arkansas maintains one of the most affordable appendectomy markets in the South, with negotiated rates running approximately 12% below national averages across the state's 140 active providers. Patients typically pay between $85 and $1,236 for laparoscopic appendectomy procedures, with a median cost of $840. The state's concentrated insurance market, dominated by Blue Cross Blue Shield Arkansas, has created predictable pricing structures that benefit patients seeking emergency surgical care.
Average
$720
Median
$840
Lowest
$85
Highest
$1,236
Providers
140
16% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does appendectomy (laparoscopic) compare to related procedures in Arkansas?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,138 | $1,894 | $2,603 | 99 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $90 | $1,839 | $2,535 | 109 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $85 | $746 | $1,042 | 118 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $479 | $752 | $1,034 | 99 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $416 | $929 | $1,328 | 117 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,180 | $1,600 | 113 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $433 | $887 | $1,074 | 102 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $85 | $399 | $561 | 111 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $461 | $734 | $1,043 | 96 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $833 | $1,107 | 109 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $294 | $596 | $790 | 105 |
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 44970 — Laparoscopic appendectomy). 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 44970 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 44970 (Laparoscopic appendectomy), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 44970 covers: the provider's professional fee for appendectomy (laparoscopic). 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.
Top-Rated Hospitals in Arkansas
These hospitals in Arkansas are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
FAYETTEVILLE, AR
NASHVILLE, AR
LITTLE ROCK, AR
BRYANT, AR
NO LITTLE ROCK, AR
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why Appendectomy Visit Costs Vary Across Arkansas
Arkansas surgical costs run approximately 12% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and concentrated insurance market dominated by Blue Cross Blue Shield Arkansas. The state's rural geography creates significant variation in facility overhead costs, with urban surgical centers in Little Rock and Fayetteville operating under different economic pressures than critical access hospitals in smaller communities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Arkansas's 140 appendectomy providers are heavily concentrated in the Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro metropolitan areas, creating access challenges for patients in the Mississippi Delta and Ozark Mountain regions. Rural critical access hospitals often transfer complex cases to urban centers, adding transport costs and potentially complicating insurance coverage scenarios. The state's geography means some patients face hour-long drives to reach experienced laparoscopic surgeons.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned surgical facilities in Arkansas typically charge 20-40% more than independent surgery centers due to higher administrative overhead and 24/7 staffing requirements. Major health systems like Baptist Health Arkansas and CHI St. Vincent have significant market presence and often set regional pricing standards for surgical procedures. Ambulatory surgery centers offer cost advantages for uncomplicated appendectomy procedures, though emergency situations usually require hospital-based care.
Insurance Market Competition in Arkansas
Blue Cross Blue Shield Arkansas's market dominance has created relatively stable reimbursement rates but limited competitive pressure to reduce surgical fees across the state. The concentrated market means fewer insurance options for patients, though it also provides predictable coverage patterns that surgical facilities can plan around. Limited insurer competition has resulted in consistent but not necessarily low pricing for surgical procedures statewide.
Physician Supply and Demand in Arkansas
With 140 active appendectomy providers serving Arkansas's population, the state maintains adequate surgical capacity in urban areas while experiencing shortages in rural regions. This supply-demand imbalance drives higher costs in underserved areas where patients have fewer provider options and may require emergency transport to reach appropriate surgical care. Wait times for non-emergency surgical consultations can extend several weeks in rural areas, though appendectomy cases receive priority scheduling due to their urgent nature.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions — Appendectomy Costs in Arkansas
What is the average cost of a Appendectomy visit in Arkansas without insurance?
Does Arkansas Medicaid cover Appendectomy visits?
How do I find an affordable Appendectomy near me in Arkansas?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Appendectomy visit in Arkansas?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Appendectomy in Arkansas?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 44970)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $5,429 | $2,206 |
| 2 | Iowa Range: $85 – $2,810 | $1,400 |
| 3 | Wyoming Range: $631 – $1,894 | $1,180 |
| 4 | New Hampshire Range: $558 – $1,752 | $1,147 |
| 5 | Nebraska Range: $726 – $1,396 | $1,142 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Range: $80 – $2,485 | $1,133 |
| 7 | South Dakota Range: $85 – $2,418 | $1,127 |
| 8 | Georgia Range: $85 – $2,038 | $1,033 |
| 9 | Minnesota Range: $80 – $2,095 | $1,024 |
| 10 | Maine Range: $682 – $1,177 | $1,001 |
| 11 | Michigan Range: $80 – $2,021 | $978 |
| 12 | District of Columbia Range: $413 – $1,405 | $945 |
| 13 | New Mexico Range: $507 – $1,408 | $933 |
| 14 | Connecticut Range: $361 – $1,590 | $908 |
| 15 | Rhode Island Range: $80 – $1,752 | $905 |
| 16 | Washington Range: $80 – $1,832 | $902 |
| 17 | Missouri Range: $551 – $1,185 | $901 |
| 18 | North Dakota Range: $80 – $1,767 | $882 |
| 19 | New York Range: $412 – $1,655 | $882 |
| 20 | Indiana Range: $80 – $1,805 | $881 |
| 21 | Illinois Range: $85 – $1,654 | $865 |
| 22 | Delaware Range: $80 – $1,893 | $865 |
| 23 | Vermont Range: $449 – $1,463 | $865 |
| 24 | New Jersey Range: $340 – $1,669 | $852 |
| 25 | North Carolina Range: $80 – $1,655 | $837 |
| 26 | Mississippi Range: $473 – $1,440 | $827 |
| 27 | Oregon Range: $80 – $1,616 | $814 |
| 28 | West Virginia Range: $85 – $1,557 | $799 |
| 29 | California Range: $80 – $1,375 | $796 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania Range: $80 – $1,669 | $794 |
| 31 | Utah Range: $80 – $1,321 | $792 |
| 32 | Hawaii Range: $80 – $1,376 | $767 |
| 33 | Kansas Range: $562 – $1,006 | $767 |
| 34 | Louisiana Range: $368 – $1,236 | $766 |
| 35 | Colorado Range: $85 – $1,421 | $765 |
| 36 | Kentucky Range: $85 – $1,415 | $758 |
| 37 | Virginia Range: $404 – $1,238 | $755 |
| 38 | Maryland Range: $437 – $1,238 | $750 |
| 39 | Ohio Range: $355 – $1,185 | $733 |
| 40 | Arkansas Range: $85 – $1,236 | $720 |
| 41 | Idaho Range: $80 – $1,349 | $716 |
| 42 | Tennessee Range: $90 – $1,258 | $699 |
| 43 | Nevada Range: $464 – $983 | $673 |
| 44 | South Carolina Range: $80 – $1,290 | $667 |
| 45 | Alabama Range: $80 – $1,208 | $653 |
| 46 | Texas Range: $85 – $1,155 | $634 |
| 47 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $1,142 | $588 |
| 48 | Arizona Range: $90 – $1,016 | $538 |
| 49 | Alaska Range: $80 – $1,339 | $500 |
| 50 | Montana Range: $80 – $1,231 | $464 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $1,065 | $385 |