Price Checker / CPT 59051
How much does Fetal Monitor/interpret Only cost?
CPT 59051 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 95x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$85–$100
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,450
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$130
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $8,979 is $8,884 over the fair price (about 95x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Fetal Monitor/interpret Only
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care - Carmel Noblesville, IN | $123 | — | 274550% |
| Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care - Fishers Noblesville, IN | $123 | — | 274550% |
| Riverview Health Noblesville Hospital Noblesville, IN | $123 | — | 274550% |
| Riverview Health Westfield Hospital Noblesville, IN | $123 | — | 274550% |
| RAPIDES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ALEXANDRIA, LA | — | — | 47651% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE MEDICAL CENTER Houston, TX | — | — | 44412% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE SOUTHEAST Pasadena, TX | — | — | 44412% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE TOMBALL Tomball, TX | — | — | 44412% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE WEST Houston, TX | — | — | 44412% |
| "Children's Hospital of Michigan" DETROIT, MI | — | — | 40285% |
| Arroyo Grande Community Hospital , CA | — | — | 39647% |
| BRIGHAM CITY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL BRIGHAM CITY, UT | — | — | 36780% |
| CACHE VALLEY HOSPITAL NORTH LOGAN, UT | — | — | 36780% |
| LAKEVIEW HOSPITAL BOUNTIFUL, UT | — | — | 36780% |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW HOSPITAL PAYSON, UT | — | — | 36780% |
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 Fetal Monitor/interpret Only
CPT code 59051 refers to fetal monitor/interpret only (billing description: "Fetal monitor/interpret only"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $36 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $36 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.