Price Checker / CPT 92971
How much does Cardioassist External cost?
CPT 92971 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 66x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$130–$260
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,350
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$330
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $13,183 is $12,983 over the fair price (about 66x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Cardioassist External
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc GRAFTON, WI | — | — | 28179% |
| Aurora Psychiatric Hospital WAUWATOSA, WI | — | — | 28179% |
| "Brigham and Women's Hospital" BOSTON, MA | $18,782 | $14,087 | 21363% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE CONROE Conroe, TX | — | — | 18420% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE KINGWOOD Kingwood, TX | — | — | 18420% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE MEDICAL CENTER Houston, TX | — | — | 18420% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE PEARLAND Pearland, TX | — | — | 18420% |
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE WEST Houston, TX | — | — | 18420% |
| "Children's Hospital of Michigan" DETROIT, MI | — | — | 16703% |
| CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center SANTA FE, NM | — | — | 15778% |
| Southlake Specialty Hospital LLC Southlake, TX | — | — | 13836% |
| METHODIST HOSPITAL HILL COUNTRY San Marcos, TX | — | — | 13633% |
| METHODIST HOSPITAL San Antonio, TX | — | — | 13633% |
| METROPOLITAN METHODIST San Antonio, TX | — | — | 13633% |
| NORTHEAST METHODIST San Antonio, TX | — | — | 13633% |
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 Cardioassist External
CPT code 92971 refers to cardioassist external (billing description: "Cardioassist external"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $88 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $88 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.