Price Checker / CPT 36221
How much does Place Cath Thoracic Aorta cost?
CPT 36221 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is about 2.9x the fair price. You have grounds to ask for a reduction.
Fair price
$4,700–$5,500
What this should cost
With insurance
~$126,100
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$6,900
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $14,966 is $9,866 over the fair price (about 2.9x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Place Cath Thoracic Aorta
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica Villa Rica, GA | $39,814 | — | 3786% |
| Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center Hartsville, SC | $22,713 | — | 2284% |
| Henry County Hospital Napoleon, OH | $10,197 | — | 970% |
| Avita Ontario Hospital Ontario, OH | $8,530 | — | 724% |
| Bucyrus Community Hospital Bucyrus, OH | $8,530 | — | 724% |
| Galion Community Hospital GALION, OH | $8,530 | — | 724% |
| Southwestern Medical Center Lawton, OK | $6,447 | — | 577% |
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 Cath Thoracic Aorta
CPT code 36221 refers to place cath thoracic aorta (billing description: "Place cath thoracic aorta"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $178 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $953 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.