Price Checker / CPT 44015
How much does Insert Needle Cath Bowel cost?
CPT 44015 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 42x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$190–$380
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,650
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$480
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $12,229 is $11,939 over the fair price (about 42x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Insert Needle Cath Bowel
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc GRAFTON, WI | — | — | 19449% |
| Aurora Psychiatric Hospital WAUWATOSA, WI | — | — | 19449% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE KINGWOOD Kingwood, TX | — | — | 15137% |
| HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress Cypress, TX | — | — | 15137% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE CLEAR LAKE Webster, TX | — | — | 13152% |
| Southlake Specialty Hospital LLC Southlake, TX | — | — | 9533% |
| METHODIST HOSPITAL HILL COUNTRY San Marcos, TX | — | — | 9394% |
| METHODIST HOSPITAL San Antonio, TX | — | — | 9394% |
| Essentia Health-Ada ADA, MN | — | — | 6484% |
| Essentia Health-Deer River DEER RIVER, MN | — | — | 6484% |
| Essentia Health-Fosston FOSSTON, MN | — | — | 6484% |
| Essentia Health-Holy Trinity Hospital (Graceville) GRACEVILLE, MN | — | — | 6484% |
| Essentia Health-Northern Pines (Aurora) Fargo, MN | — | — | 6484% |
| Essentia Health-Sandstone SANDSTONE, MN | — | — | 6484% |
| "Essentia Health St. Mary's Hospital-Superior" Fargo, WI | — | — | 6484% |
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 Cath Bowel
CPT code 44015 refers to insert needle cath bowel (billing description: "Insert needle cath bowel"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $127 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $127 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.