Price Checker / CPT 36500
CPT 36500 — Insertion of catheter vein
2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rates and hospital pricing data
$160
What Medicare pays in a hospital/ASC setting
$160
What Medicare pays in a physician's office
$18,532
Based on 15 hospital(s) in our database
What do these numbers mean?
The Medicare rateis what the federal government determines is a fair payment for this procedure. It's based on the Relative Value Unit (RVU) system, which accounts for physician work, practice expense, and malpractice cost. Hospitals and providers often charge 3-20x this amount. If your bill is significantly higher than the Medicare rate, you may have grounds to negotiate.
Hospital Charges for CPT 36500
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morristown Medical Center , NJ | $55,540 | $7,228 | 34543% |
| Parkland Health Center - Bonne Terre , MO | $30,630 | $18,378 | 19005% |
| Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital , MO | $30,183 | $18,110 | 18726% |
| Parkland Health Center , MO | $30,154 | $18,092 | 18708% |
| "Saint Clare's Behavioral Health - Boonton" , NJ | $23,195 | — | 14368% |
| "Saint Clare's Denville Hospital" , NJ | $23,195 | — | 14368% |
| "Saint Clare's Dover Hospital" , NJ | $23,195 | — | 14368% |
| Midwestern Regional Medical Center , IL | $10,899 | $4,905 | 6698% |
| Western Regional Medical Center , AZ | $10,899 | $4,905 | 6698% |
| Southeastern Regional Medical Center , GA | $10,311 | $4,640 | 6332% |
| Kona Community Hospital , HI | — | — | 5438% |
| "Boston Children's Brookline" , MA | $6,420 | $6,420 | 3904% |
| "Boston Children's Longwood" , MA | $6,420 | $6,420 | 3904% |
| Martha Eliot Health Center , MA | $6,420 | $6,420 | 3904% |
| Stone County Medical Center , AR | $1,648 | $1,236 | 928% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
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About CPT 36500
CPT code 36500 refers to “Insertion of catheter vein”. Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, this procedure is reimbursed at $160 in a facility (hospital or ambulatory surgery center) and $160in a non-facility (physician's office) setting.
These rates are set by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and represent what the government considers a fair payment for this service. While commercial insurance typically pays somewhat more than Medicare, many hospitals charge significantly higher amounts — sometimes 10-50x the Medicare rate.
What to do if you were overcharged
- Upload your bill— we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- Get a dispute letter— citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- Negotiate or let us handle it — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.