Cholecystectomy Cost in Arkansas (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a cholecystectomy cost in Arkansas?

A typical cholecystectomy in Arkansas costs $3,672–$10,824 for a commercially insured patient, including facility and physician fees. The median reported facility price across 51 hospitals is $4,884. This estimate is based on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield dominates commercial insurance contracting statewide, creating relatively uniform negotiated rates across most major health systems. UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) and Baptist Health anchor the major institutional tiers; rural Arkansas has extensive critical access hospital coverage where cash prices may be higher than urban facilities despite lower local costs.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is one of the most common ambulatory surgeries in the US, and facility type is the single biggest cost lever — ambulatory surgery centers charge 40–60% less than hospital outpatient departments for identical outcomes. Most commercial payers require prior authorization, and the surgeon and anesthesiologist bill separately from the facility, so confirming all three providers are in-network prevents unexpected out-of-network charges.

Even within Arkansas, Newport ($1,514) and Little Rock ($4,884) are 3.2× apart on the median price. Across 51 Arkansas hospitals that publish prices, a cholecystectomy runs from as little as $363 (LAWRENCE MEMORIAL HEALTH FOUNDATION, INC in Walnut Ridge) to $58,856 (Northwest Medical Center - Bentonville in Bentonville) — a 162.1× spread for the same procedure. Half of Arkansas facilities price it at or below $4,884, with most clustered between $1,694 and $7,092. Insurers negotiate this down to a median of $533, while self-pay patients are quoted $5,022 — about 9.4× higher, so asking for the cash or insurer-negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on your bill.

Where cholecystectomy costs vary in Arkansas

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

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The facility you choose matters more than almost anything else — the same procedure, same quality, same state can cost 5× more at one hospital versus the one down the road.

→ Compare all procedure costs   → Cholecystectomy costs nationwide

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Lower-cost options in Arkansas start around $1,694 or below. Most hospitals cluster between $1,694 and $8,666. A smaller group reports prices above that — often academic medical centers or high-cost markets.

If you're comparing specific hospitals, the lowest self-pay rates reported in this dataset include: White River Health in Batesville (cash price from $1,505); Baptist Memorial Hospital-NEA in Jonesboro (cash price from $1,526); CHI St. Vincent North in Sherwood (cash price from $1,540). These are declared cash prices — contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Arkansas Cholecystectomy prices by facility

All prices below come from hospital chargemasters — the official price lists each hospital must publish under federal law. Gross charge is the undiscounted list price; cash price is the self-pay rate; negotiated range covers the spread across insurance contracts.

Source: CMS hospital price transparency machine-readable files. vs Median = savings or premium relative to the state median price. Gross Charge = undiscounted list price for reference.

Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go →

Compare other procedures in Arkansas:

• Appendectomy Cost in Arkansas
• Cataract Surgery Cost in Arkansas

Where you can save the most on cholecystectomy in Arkansas

These facilities have the lowest declared prices relative to the state median — they represent the best opportunities to reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.

Most expensive cholecystectomy providers in Arkansas

These facilities report the highest prices for this procedure. Academic medical centers and specialty hospitals often top this list — their gross charges rarely reflect what anyone actually pays, but understanding the spread helps you negotiate.

Why prices vary this much

Setting drives much of the gap in Arkansas: the median outpatient price is $4,930 versus $7,419 inpatient — about 1.5× more, so where a procedure is performed often matters more than which hospital you choose. Of the Arkansas facilities reporting prices, 17 fall in a low-cost tier (up to $1,694) while 17 sit in a high-cost tier ($8,666 and up) — a lower-priced option almost always exists within the same state.

Among the cities with the most reporting hospitals, Little Rock has a median reported price of $4,884 across 5 facilities, while facilities in Newport tend to report lower prices (median: $1,514). City-level variation within a state often reflects local market structure, not procedure complexity.

The spread comes from how each hospital sets its chargemaster (the undiscounted list price), what cash discounts it applies, and what rates it negotiates with each insurer. Facility classification matters too — a hospital-owned outpatient center adds a facility fee that a freestanding clinic does not. Understanding these mechanics is the first step to paying less.

Learn more:
→ Allowed amount vs negotiated rate — what your EOB is really saying
→ How to read your medical bill
→ Why hospital prices are so hard to find — and what to do about it

How insurance changes what you actually pay

Hospital list prices are only part of the picture. What you pay out of pocket depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility is in-network, and whether your plan classifies the visit as outpatient or inpatient. A lower gross charge doesn't guarantee a lower bill if the facility is out-of-network or adds facility fees your plan doesn't cover.

Understand your cost before you go:
→ Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
→ EOB vs medical bill — complete guide
→ How to stop medical bill problems before they start (in-network vs out-of-network)

Cholecystectomy Costs by Metro Area in Arkansas

Prices vary across Arkansas metro areas based on local hospital competition, wage adjustments, and facility mix. Explore detailed facility price data for each metro area:

• Cholecystectomy Cost in Fayetteville, AR
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Fort Smith, AR
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Hot Springs, AR
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Jonesboro, AR
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Little Rock, AR
• Cholecystectomy Cost in Texarkana Tx, AR

Compare cholecystectomy costs in nearby states

• New York
• California
• Texas
• Florida

Frequently asked questions: cholecystectomy costs in Arkansas

How much does a cholecystectomy cost in Arkansas?

Across 51 Arkansas hospitals that publish prices, a cholecystectomy ranges from $363 to $58,856, with a median of $4,884. Most facilities fall between $1,694 and $7,092. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get a cholecystectomy in Arkansas?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Arkansas data is LAWRENCE MEMORIAL HEALTH FOUNDATION, INC in Walnut Ridge at about $363. By metro, Newport has the lowest median ($1,514). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data — ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is a cholecystectomy so much cheaper at some Arkansas hospitals?

Prices vary up to 162.1× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Arkansas, the median cash (self-pay) price is $5,022 versus a median negotiated rate of $533 — about 9.4× higher. Asking for the cash price or your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for a cholecystectomy in Arkansas?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network — not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

Explore all cholecystectomy cost data

→ See cholecystectomy costs across all states

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. If you've received a bill for this procedure:
→ Analyze your medical bill for errors
→ How to negotiate your medical bills
→ Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account)