Price Checker / CPT 69421
How much does Incision Of Eardrum cost?
CPT 69421 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 53x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$210–$410
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,050
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$510
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $16,379 is $16,069 over the fair price (about 53x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Incision Of Eardrum
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| AdventHealth Lenexa City Center , KS | $31,910 | $15,955 | 23031% |
| AdventHealth Overland Park , KS | $31,910 | $15,955 | 23031% |
| AdventHealth Shawnee Mission SHAWNEE MISSION, KS | $31,910 | $15,955 | 23031% |
| "MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital" , WA | $25,889 | $10,356 | 18667% |
| Plainview Hospital PLAINVIEW, NY | — | $4,595 | 14507% |
| Parkland Health Center - Bonne Terre BONNE TERRE, MO | $19,507 | $11,704 | 14041% |
| Glen Cove Hospital , NY | — | $4,595 | 10011% |
| Huntington Hospital PASADENA, NY | — | $4,595 | 10011% |
| Mather Hospital , NY | — | $4,595 | 10011% |
| South Shore University Hospital , NY | — | $4,595 | 10011% |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital ALEXANDRIA, VA | — | — | 8483% |
| Inova Fair Oaks Hospital FAIRFAX, VA | — | — | 8483% |
| Inova Fairfax Hospital FALLS CHURCH, VA | — | — | 8483% |
| Inova Loudoun Hospital LEESBURG, VA | — | — | 8483% |
| Inova Mount Vernon Hospital ALEXANDRIA, VA | — | — | 8483% |
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 Incision Of Eardrum
CPT code 69421 refers to incision of eardrum (billing description: "Incision of eardrum"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $138 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $138 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.