Price Checker / CPT 44021
How much does Decompress Small Bowel cost?
CPT 44021 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is in line with what this normally costs. No need to dispute.
Fair price
$1,600–$1,900
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,850
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$2,400
Push back above this
What hospitals charge for Decompress Small 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haskell Rural Health Clinic Haskell, TX | $1,613 | — | 77% |
| Plains Clinic source-page_url: Plains, TX | $1,448 | — | 59% |
| West Texas Medical Center Denver City, TX | $1,448 | — | 59% |
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 Decompress Small Bowel
CPT code 44021 refers to decompress small bowel (billing description: "Decompress small bowel"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $909 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $909 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.