Price Checker / CPT 33946
How much does Ecmo/ecls Initiation Venous cost?
CPT 33946 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 88x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$420–$840
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,850
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,050
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $55,136 is $54,506 over the fair price (about 88x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Ecmo/ecls Initiation Venous
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 Ecmo/ecls Initiation Venous
CPT code 33946 refers to ecmo/ecls initiation venous (billing description: "Ecmo/ecls initiation venous"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $280 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $280 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.