Price Checker / CPT 36800
How much does Insertion Of Cannula cost?
CPT 36800 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 47x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$160–$320
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,500
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$400
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $11,156 is $10,916 over the fair price (about 47x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Insertion Of Cannula
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| "MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital" , WA | — | — | 34284% |
| Lake Region Healthcare Hospital , MN | — | — | 26815% |
| UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital SAN FRANCISCO, CA | — | — | 23655% |
| Mon Health Medical Center MORGANTOWN, WV | — | — | 23634% |
| MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital PUYALLUP, WA | — | — | 23361% |
| St. Anne Hospital , WA | — | — | 22837% |
| "Children's Hospital of Michigan" DETROIT, MI | — | — | 21779% |
| "St. Mary's General Hospital" PASSAIC, NJ | $22,981 | $8,261 | 21268% |
| Mid Coast Hospital , ME | — | — | 17456% |
| MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital , WA | — | — | 16970% |
| JONES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WELLSVILLE, NY | — | — | 15309% |
| JFK Memorial Hospital , CA | — | — | 15172% |
| FREDERICK FERRIS THOMPSON HOSPITAL , NY | — | — | 14765% |
| Carle Health Proctor Hospital PEORIA, IL | — | — | 14204% |
| University Hospitals Tripoint Medical Center , OH | — | — | 13992% |
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 Cannula
CPT code 36800 refers to insertion of cannula (billing description: "Insertion of cannula"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $108 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $108 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.