CPT 81003: automated urinalysis (without microscopy). What Medicare pays and what to ask
A simple urine test with a big range of prices on bills. This page explains 81003 and its Medicare lab rate.
What this code means
CPT 81003 is an automated urinalysis using a dipstick-type reagent, read by a machine, without microscopic examination.
A urinalysis with microscopy is billed with a different code.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
The Medicare lab rate for this test is only a couple of dollars, so the multiples on hospital bills can look very large.
A large multiple does not prove an error, but it is a good reason to ask for an explanation.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $11.25 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $22.50 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $45.00 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- Was the test automated, with or without microscopy?
- Is the urinalysis billed once on this bill?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CMS, 2026), national payment limit. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.