Price Checker / CPT 46020
How much does Placement Of Seton cost?
CPT 46020 · 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
$170–$330
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,050
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$410
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $11,692 is $11,442 over the fair price (about 47x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Placement Of Seton
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos Medical Center LOS ALAMOS, NY | $32,257 | — | 28989% |
| Franciscan Health Olympia Fields , IL | $21,959 | $4,392 | 19703% |
| Ashley Regional Medical Center VERNAL, UT | $21,209 | — | 19026% |
| "Children's Hospital of Michigan" DETROIT, MI | — | — | 16046% |
| Franciscan Health Munster MUNSTER, IN | $16,333 | $4,361 | 14629% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Psychiatry , OH | $14,998 | $6,510 | 13425% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Rehab , OH | $14,998 | $6,510 | 13425% |
| The Christ Hospital Liberty , OH | $14,998 | $6,510 | 13425% |
| The Christ Hospital , OH | $14,998 | $6,510 | 13425% |
| Lenox Hill Hospital NEW YORK, NY | — | $4,595 | 11761% |
| North Shore University Hospital MANHASSET, NY | — | $4,595 | 11203% |
| St. Anne Hospital , WA | — | — | 11186% |
| Long Island Jewish Forest Hills , NY | — | $4,595 | 11144% |
| Mather Hospital , NY | — | $4,595 | 11144% |
| South Shore University Hospital , NY | — | $4,595 | 11144% |
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 Placement Of Seton
CPT code 46020 refers to placement of seton (billing description: "Placement of seton"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $111 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $111 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.