Price Checker / CPT 36510
How much does Insertion Of Catheter Vein cost?
CPT 36510 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 46x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$350–$410
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,250
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$510
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $17,515 is $17,135 over the fair price (about 46x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Insertion Of Catheter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital SANTA CRUZ, CA | — | — | 31503% |
| UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital SAN FRANCISCO, CA | — | — | 24805% |
| Arroyo Grande Community Hospital , CA | — | — | 16695% |
| Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services Gallup, NM | $6,894 | — | 7500% |
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 Insertion Of Catheter Vein
CPT code 36510 refers to insertion of catheter vein (billing description: "Insertion of catheter vein"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $45 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $86 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.