Price Checker / CPT 33216
How much does Insert 1 Electrode Pm-defib cost?
CPT 33216 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 40x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$500–$990
What this should cost
With insurance
~$139,700
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,250
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $30,091 is $29,341 over the fair price (about 40x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Insert 1 Electrode Pm-defib
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
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 Insert 1 Electrode Pm-defib
CPT code 33216 refers to insert 1 electrode pm-defib (billing description: "Insert 1 electrode pm-defib"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $331 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $331 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.