Price Checker / CPT 36010
How much does Place Catheter In Vein cost?
CPT 36010 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 47x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$1,600–$1,900
What this should cost
With insurance
~$116,700
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$2,400
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $81,884 is $80,134 over the fair price (about 47x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Place Catheter In Vein
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 Concord Medical Center , CA | $241,014 | $108,456 | 46939% |
| Stony Brook Southampton Hospital , NY | $3,108 | — | 14740% |
| Driscoll Children's Hospital 5th Floor NICU Corpus Christi, TX | $1,529 | — | 1299% |
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 Place Catheter In Vein
CPT code 36010 refers to place catheter in vein (billing description: "Place catheter in vein"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $95 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $512 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.