Direct Pay
Patient pays New Century Labs directly for lab testing.
PatientNew Century Labs
Can Texas Clinics Offer Cash-Pay Labs?
Direct Pay, Service Fee, or Self-Managed: what fits Texas practices, and where to start.
New Century Labs supports all three billing workflows: Direct PayService FeeSelf-Managed Pricing
Educational overview, not legal advice · Last reviewed July 2026 · Choose a starting point here, then confirm it with counsel.
Plain-English answer
Can Texas clinics offer cash-pay labs? Yes. Texas allows clinic-set pricing once the required patient disclosures are in place. Direct Pay, where the patient pays the lab directly, is still the simplest way to start.
Three billing workflows
Direct Pay, Service Fee, and Self-Managed Pricing
Service Fee
Clinic may charge a transparent fee for professional/admin services.
PatientNew Century Labs + Clinic fee
Self-Managed Pricing
Clinic controls patient pricing where state law and payer context allow.
PatientClinicNew Century Labs
Texas allows a clinic charge above an outside lab’s price only when the lab’s actual charge and the clinic’s amount are disclosed to the patient. Disclosure does the heavy lifting. Direct Pay stays the simplest start; practice-managed pricing works once the disclosure workflow is in place.
Recommended starting point for Texas clinics
Direct Pay is the simplest path. Self-Managed pricing works once the required patient disclosures are completed before billing.
Texas-specific billing considerations
Texas requires clear patient disclosure of lab and clinic charges. A charge above lab cost is lawful only when the lab’s charge and the clinic’s amount are disclosed to the patient before billing. For reference, see Texas’s statute, Tex. Health & Safety Code § 161.061.
How each workflow fits in Texas
| Workflow | Fit for Texas clinics |
|---|---|
| Direct Pay | The simplest path. |
| Service Fee | An option for the clinic’s own separate work. |
| Self-Managed | Available once the required disclosures are made before billing. |
Medicare-sensitive workflows
In Texas, Medicare patients usually mean Direct Pay with any clinic fee separate and documented. New Century Labs’ cash-pay workflow is intended for non-covered or patient-requested testing where Medicare is not billed; covered, medically necessary services require a different billing analysis — see our Medicare guide.
Estimate
Compare patient cost and service-fee impact
Choose your starting point, then confirm it with counsel. The right model depends on your state, payer mix, and patient population.
Checking access
Checking whether this browser already has calculator access…
Clinic verification
Verify your clinic to compare Direct Pay, Service Fee, and Self-Managed workflows using your own test mix.
Takes about a minute. Your details go to our verification service only.
Common lab test mix
Based on frequently ordered tests across New Century Labs practices.
8 tests selected · Customize after verification
Typical retail price
$—
Estimated published retail total for the shared basket.
Your New Century Labs price
$•••
Verify your clinic to view confidential provider pricing.
Manual review
We’re taking a quick look.
We couldn’t verify your clinic automatically, so our team will review your request, usually the same business day. If your practice checks out, you’ll receive a secure access link by email. The link is single-use and safe to open; it asks you to confirm before it activates.
Request received. No further action needed.
Common lab test mix
How you bill patients
Patient pays New Century Labs directly
Add a transparent service fee
$
You control patient pricing
%
Estimated patient savings
For your practice
$0
saved per patient
Your patient pays $0 instead of $0 when insurance falls short.
For your practice
Talk through my test mix
Get your exact prices across 3,500+ tests on a 15-minute call. No commitment.
How you can bill for lab work is regulated and varies by state. You're responsible for choosing a model that complies with your state's rules. This is an illustration, not legal advice; we'll help you find the right fit on the call.
Common questions
Can Texas clinics offer cash-pay lab testing?
Yes. The real question is which billing workflow, not whether. Most clinics start with Direct Pay: the patient pays the lab directly.
Can a Texas clinic charge patients more than the lab’s price?
Yes, if the required disclosures are made before billing: the performing lab, its charge, and your clinic’s amount. Have counsel review the specifics.
What’s the simplest way for a Texas clinic to start?
Direct Pay. The patient pays New Century Labs directly and there is nothing to set up. Add a separate service fee for your own work where appropriate.
Sources & review notes
Written by New Century Labs and reviewed for operational accuracy by the New Century Labs team — not reviewed as legal advice. Last reviewed July 2026; laws and payer rules may change. Confirm the right workflow for your practice with your healthcare counsel.
Explore the cluster
Where to go next
Next step
Talk through the right cash-pay lab workflow for your practice.
Pick the workflow that fits your state and your practice. We’ll help you compare Direct Pay, Service Fee, and Self-Managed Pricing, then confirm it with counsel.