Price Checker / CPT 43260
How much does Ercp W/specimen Collection cost?
CPT 43260 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 12x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$420–$840
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,000
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,050
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $7,728 is $7,098 over the fair price (about 12x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Ercp W/specimen Collection
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLOTTE HUNGERFORD HOSPITAL TORRINGTON, CT | $18,656 | — | 6542% |
| Mosaic Medical Center in Maryville , MO | $10,000 | $8,500 | 3460% |
| UPMC Wellsboro WELLSBORO, PA | $9,871 | $7,897 | 3414% |
| Frick Hospital , PA | $4,293 | — | 3242% |
| Latrobe Area Hospital , PA | $4,293 | — | 3242% |
| Westmoreland Regional Hospital Greeensburg, PA | $4,293 | — | 3242% |
| Avita Ontario Hospital Ontario, OH | $9,821 | — | 3117% |
| Bucyrus Community Hospital Bucyrus, OH | $9,821 | — | 3117% |
| Galion Community Hospital GALION, OH | $9,821 | — | 3117% |
| Hillcrest Hospital Pryor Pryor, OK | $14,879 | — | 2368% |
| Southwestern Medical Center Lawton, OK | $5,909 | — | 2004% |
| Madison Medical Center Fredericktown, MO | $3,833 | — | 1721% |
| Wilcox Medical Center Lihue, HI | $5,253 | — | 1490% |
| "Doctors' Center Hospital - San Fernando de la Carolina" , DE | $3,200 | $3,200 | 1039% |
| RiverBridge Specialty Hospital Vidalia, LA | $3,310 | — | 937% |
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 Ercp W/specimen Collection
CPT code 43260 refers to ercp w/specimen collection (billing description: "Ercp w/specimen collection"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $281 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $281 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.