Price Checker / CPT 69960
How much does Release Inner Ear Canal cost?
CPT 69960 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 35x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$5,150–$6,100
What this should cost
With insurance
~$4,100
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$7,650
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $196,609 is $190,959 over the fair price (about 35x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Release Inner Ear Canal
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX | $196,609 | — | 11942% |
| UTMB Health Angleton Danbury Hospital Galveston, TX | $196,609 | — | 11942% |
| UTMB Health Clear Lake Hospital Galveston, TX | $196,609 | — | 11942% |
| UTMB Health League City Hospital Galveston, TX | $196,609 | — | 11942% |
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 Release Inner Ear Canal
CPT code 69960 refers to release inner ear canal (billing description: "Release inner ear canal"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $1,633 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $1,633 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.