Price Checker / CPT 51040
How much does Incise & Drain Bladder cost?
CPT 51040 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 13x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$410–$820
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,850
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,050
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $7,978 is $7,358 over the fair price (about 13x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Incise & Drain Bladder
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical Institute of Reading WYOMISSING, PA | $14,896 | $2,795 | 5359% |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BRENHAM Brenham, TX | — | — | 3638% |
| Conemaugh Miners Medical Center HASTINGS, PA | $8,603 | — | 3053% |
| Kindred Hospital East New Jersey Passaic, NJ | $8,519 | — | 3022% |
| Kindred Hospital New Jersey - Morris County Dover, NJ | $8,519 | — | 3022% |
| Kindred Hospital New Jersey - Rahway Rahway, NJ | $8,519 | — | 3022% |
| Putnam General Hospital EATONTON, GA | $2,863 | $1,431 | 949% |
| Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital , WV | $1,706 | $853 | 525% |
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 Incise & Drain Bladder
CPT code 51040 refers to incise & drain bladder (billing description: "Incise & drain bladder"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $273 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $273 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.