Price Checker / CPT 36680
How much does Insert Needle Bone Cavity cost?
CPT 36680 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 70x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$85–$170
What this should cost
With insurance
~$68,200
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$210
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $9,064 is $8,934 over the fair price (about 70x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Insert Needle Bone Cavity
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Medical Center PORT LAVACA, NM | $46,645 | — | 80629% |
| CENTENNIAL HOSPITAL A CAMPUS OF TMCA Lakewood, CO | — | — | 34715% |
| MOUNTAINVIEW HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER Las Vegas, NV | — | — | 21456% |
| SOUTHERN HILLS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER Las Vegas, NV | — | — | 21456% |
| METHODIST HOSPITAL San Antonio, TX | — | — | 11536% |
| METROPOLITAN METHODIST San Antonio, TX | — | — | 11536% |
| NORTHEAST METHODIST San Antonio, TX | — | — | 11536% |
| Putnam County Memorial Hospital UNIONVILLE, MO | $1,139 | $797 | 1871% |
| Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems , MO | $1,091 | $764 | 1788% |
| Buchanan General Hospital GRUNDY, VA | $980 | $343 | 1596% |
| DeWitt Hospital and Nursing Home , AR | $949 | $949 | 1543% |
| Delta Memorial Hospital DUMAS, AR | $944 | $755 | 1534% |
| Bucktail Medical Center RENOVO, PA | $892 | $803 | 1444% |
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 Insert Needle Bone Cavity
CPT code 36680 refers to insert needle bone cavity (billing description: "Insert needle bone cavity"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $58 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $58 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.