Price Checker / CPT 51102
How much does Drain Bl W/cath Insertion cost?
CPT 51102 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 9.3x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$360–$720
What this should cost
With insurance
~$61,400
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$900
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,033 is $4,493 over the fair price (about 9.3x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Drain Bl W/cath Insertion
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Elizabeth Hospital Fort Morgan, CO | $7,735 | — | 5171% |
| Dallas County Hospital PERRY, IA | $6,948 | $4,516 | 2781% |
| Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Hospital ONEONTA, NY | $2,157 | — | 2567% |
| Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Hospital - Tri Town Campus Oneonta, NY | $2,157 | — | 2567% |
| Chase County Hospital Imperial, NE | $6,276 | — | 2529% |
| Winner Regional Health Winner, SD | $6,432 | — | 2434% |
| Cozad Community Hospital Cozad, NE | $6,146 | — | 2321% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $5,820 | — | 2313% |
| Hansford County Hospital District Spearman, TX | $5,486 | — | 2175% |
| Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital , NY | $5,486 | $2,194 | 2175% |
| Newport Community Hospital Newport, WA | $5,413 | — | 2055% |
| Morrill County Community Hospital Bridgeport, NE | $4,759 | — | 1775% |
| Wills Memorial Hospital WASHINGTON, GA | $2,896 | $2,027 | 1101% |
| Muenster Memorial Hospital Muenster, TX | $3,600 | — | 945% |
| Hoke Hospital , NC | $4,189 | — | 367% |
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 Drain Bl W/cath Insertion
CPT code 51102 refers to drain bl w/cath insertion (billing description: "Drain bl w/cath insertion"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $126 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $241 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.