Price Checker / CPT 78226
How much does Hepatobiliary System Imaging cost?
CPT 78226 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 4.3x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$430–$850
What this should cost
With insurance
~$114,900
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,050
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $2,784 is $2,144 over the fair price (about 4.3x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Hepatobiliary System Imaging
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindred Hospital Las Vegas - Flamingo Las Vegas, NV | $5,168 | — | 1714% |
| Kindred Hospital Las Vegas - Sahara Las Vegas, NV | $5,168 | — | 1714% |
| UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown Chestertown, MD | $3,770 | — | 1223% |
| UM Shore Medical Center at Easton Easton, MD | $3,613 | — | 1168% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Muskogee Muskogee, OK | $3,526 | — | 1138% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $3,295 | — | 1057% |
| University of Maryland Medical Center - Midtown Campus BALTIMORE, MD | $2,909 | — | 921% |
| UM Capital Region Medical Center Largo, MD | $2,481 | — | 771% |
| UM Laurel Medical Center Laurel, MD | $2,447 | — | 759% |
| Frederick Health Hospital FREDERICK, MD | $1,906 | — | 569% |
| Mid Coast Medical Center - Trinity Trinity, TX | $1,663 | — | 484% |
| Meritus Medical Center, Inc. HAGERSTOWN, MD | $1,638 | — | 475% |
| UM Charles Regional Medical Center La Plata, MD | $1,555 | — | 446% |
| UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center Bel Air, MD | $1,488 | — | 422% |
| UM St. Joseph Medical Center Towson, MD | $1,129 | — | 296% |
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 Hepatobiliary System Imaging
CPT code 78226 refers to hepatobiliary system imaging (billing description: "Hepatobiliary system imaging"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $285 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $285 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.