Price Checker / CPT 51605
How much does Preparation For Bladder X-ray cost?
CPT 51605 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 88x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$55–$110
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,550
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$140
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $7,506 is $7,421 over the fair price (about 88x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Preparation For Bladder X-ray
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAPIDES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ALEXANDRIA, LA | — | — | 49475% |
| Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc GRAFTON, WI | — | — | 41195% |
| Aurora Psychiatric Hospital WAUWATOSA, WI | — | — | 41195% |
| Arroyo Grande Community Hospital , CA | — | — | 41166% |
| "St. John's Hospital Camarillo" SPRINGFIELD, CA | — | — | 36324% |
| "Children's Hospital of Michigan" DETROIT, MI | — | — | 23111% |
| BELTON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Belton, MO | — | — | 20901% |
| LEE'S SUMMIT MEDICAL CENTER Lees Summit, MO | — | — | 20901% |
| MOUNTAINVIEW HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER Las Vegas, NV | — | — | 18323% |
| SOUTHERN HILLS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER Las Vegas, NV | — | — | 18323% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE CONROE Conroe, TX | — | — | 16555% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE MEDICAL CENTER Houston, TX | — | — | 16555% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE PEARLAND Pearland, TX | — | — | 16555% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE WEST Houston, TX | — | — | 16555% |
| Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital , AZ | — | — | 14899% |
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 Preparation For Bladder X-ray
CPT code 51605 refers to preparation for bladder x-ray (billing description: "Preparation for bladder xray"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $35 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $35 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.