Price Checker / CPT 69436
How much does Create Eardrum Opening cost?
CPT 69436 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 52x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$220–$430
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,600
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$540
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $17,065 is $16,735 over the fair price (about 52x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Create Eardrum Opening
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Muir Health Walnut Creek Medical Center , CA | $70,122 | $31,555 | 48384% |
| Franciscan Health Lafayette LAFAYETTE, IN | $34,180 | $8,784 | 23533% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Psychiatry , OH | $25,095 | $6,559 | 17251% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Rehab , OH | $25,095 | $6,559 | 17251% |
| The Christ Hospital Liberty , OH | $25,095 | $6,559 | 17251% |
| The Christ Hospital , OH | $25,095 | $6,559 | 17251% |
| AdventHealth Lenexa City Center , KS | $25,019 | $12,510 | 17199% |
| AdventHealth Overland Park , KS | $25,019 | $12,510 | 17199% |
| AdventHealth Shawnee Mission SHAWNEE MISSION, KS | $25,019 | $12,510 | 17199% |
| Los Alamos Medical Center LOS ALAMOS, NY | $19,437 | — | 13339% |
| Franciscan Health Olympia Fields , IL | $15,244 | $3,049 | 10440% |
| Meadowview Regional Medical Center MAYSVILLE, KY | $13,047 | — | 8921% |
| Georgetown Community Hospital GEORGETOWN, KY | $12,003 | — | 8199% |
| UPMC Muncy MUNCY, PA | $10,773 | $8,618 | 7349% |
| UPMC Wellsboro WELLSBORO, PA | $10,773 | $8,618 | 7349% |
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 Create Eardrum Opening
CPT code 69436 refers to create eardrum opening (billing description: "Create eardrum opening"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $145 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $145 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.