Price Checker / CPT 36245
How much does Ins Cath Abd/l-ext Art 1st cost?
CPT 36245 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 33x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$2,350–$2,800
What this should cost
With insurance
~$110,300
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$3,500
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $84,409 is $81,809 over the fair price (about 33x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Ins Cath Abd/l-ext Art 1st
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Okaloosa Medical Center Crestview, FL | $156,317 | — | 284952% |
| HARBOUR VIEW MEDICAL CENTER , VA | $144,213 | — | 10535% |
| MARYVIEW HOSPITAL Portsmouth, VA | $144,213 | — | 10535% |
| Starr Regional Medical Center , TN | $33,300 | — | 2678% |
| UAB St. Vincent's Birmingham , AL | $28,412 | — | 2270% |
| Lincoln Medical Center Bronx, NY | — | — | -100% |
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 Ins Cath Abd/l-ext Art 1st
CPT code 36245 refers to ins cath abd/l-ext art 1st (billing description: "Ins cath abd/l-ext art 1st"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $207 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $1,199 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.