Price Checker / CPT 33224
How much does Insert Pacing Lead & Connect cost?
CPT 33224 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 54x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$660–$1,300
What this should cost
With insurance
~$148,600
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,650
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $52,992 is $52,012 over the fair price (about 54x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Insert Pacing Lead & Connect
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Muir Health Walnut Creek Medical Center , CA | $206,633 | $92,985 | 46696% |
| Duncan Regional Hospital Duncan, OK | — | — | 32165% |
| Jefferson County Hospital Waurika, OK | — | — | 32165% |
| LEWISGALE CAVE SPRING ER ROANOKE, VA | — | — | 32037% |
| HCA HOUSTON ER 24/7 COPPERFIELD HOUSTON, TX | $136,932 | — | 30911% |
| HCA HOUSTON ER 24/7 - FRY ROAD Cypress, TX | $136,932 | — | 30911% |
| HCA HOUSTON ER 24/7 - TOWNE LAKE CYPRESS, TX | $136,932 | — | 30911% |
| HCA HOUSTON ER 24/7 WILLOWBROOK HOUSTON, TX | $136,932 | — | 30911% |
| HCA HOUSTON NORTH CYPRESS Cypress, TX | $136,932 | — | 30911% |
| Franciscan Health Munster MUNSTER, IN | $136,615 | $36,476 | 30839% |
| Carolina Forest ER Myrtle Beach, SC | — | — | 30064% |
| LIVE OAK MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS Ladson, SC | — | — | 28532% |
| Grady Memorial Hospital CHICKASHA, OK | — | $0 | 24833% |
| CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center SANTA FE, NM | — | — | 21689% |
| Stony Brook University Hospital , NY | $42,740 | — | 17120% |
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 Pacing Lead & Connect
CPT code 33224 refers to insert pacing lead & connect (billing description: "Insert pacing lead & connect"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $442 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $442 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.