Price Checker / CPT 12001
How much does Simple stitches/wound repair cost?
CPT 12001 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 16x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$530–$620
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,000
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$780
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $9,290 is $8,710 over the fair price (about 16x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Simple stitches/wound repair
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franciscan Health Munster MUNSTER, IN | $36,063 | $9,629 | 31562% |
| Parkland Health Center FARMINGTON, MO | $19,917 | $11,950 | 17387% |
| Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital SULLIVAN, MO | $19,872 | $11,923 | 17347% |
| Baptist Health-Fort Smith FORT SMITH, AR | $9,072 | $2,268 | 7865% |
| Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway CONWAY, AR | $9,072 | $2,268 | 7865% |
| Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County MONTICELLO, AR | $9,072 | $2,268 | 7865% |
| Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County , AR | $9,072 | $2,268 | 7865% |
| Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock LITTLE ROCK, AR | $9,072 | $2,268 | 7865% |
| Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR | $9,072 | $2,268 | 7865% |
| Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart STUTTGART, AR | $9,072 | $2,268 | 7865% |
| Baptist Health-Van Buren VAN BUREN, AR | $9,072 | $2,268 | 7865% |
| UPMC Hamot ERIE, PA | — | — | 5750% |
| John George Psychiatric Hospital San Leandro, CA | $413 | — | 2759% |
| Edgerton Hospital and Health Services EDGERTON, WI | $765 | $558 | 572% |
| EHHS Milton Clinic , WI | $765 | $558 | 572% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Simple stitches/wound repair
CPT code 12001 refers to simple stitches/wound repair (billing description: "Rpr s/n/ax/gen/trnk 2.5cm/<"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $44 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $114 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.