Price Checker / CPT 97018
How much does Paraffin Bath Therapy cost?
CPT 97018 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 13x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$10–$20
What this should cost
With insurance
~$210
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$25
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $194 is $179 over the fair price (about 13x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Paraffin Bath Therapy
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| HealthSource Saginaw SAGINAW, MI | — | — | 29850% |
| Stonewall Jackson Hospital , WV | — | — | 26621% |
| Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital , PA | $82 | — | 15957% |
| Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island , RI | $498 | $498 | 8186% |
| MEDICAL CITY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER - ALLIANCE FORT WORTH, TX | $337 | — | 5513% |
| Covenant Rehabilitation Hospital of Lubbock, LLC Lubbock, TX | $65 | — | 5015% |
| Baylor - Dallas Dallas, TX | — | — | 4842% |
| Baylor - Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX | — | — | 4842% |
| Baylor - Frisco Frisco, TX | — | — | 4842% |
| Baylor - Lakeway Lakeway, TX | — | — | 4842% |
| Summa Rehab Hospital, LLC Akron, OH | $65 | — | 3977% |
| Donalsonville Hospital , GA | $226 | $192 | 3660% |
| SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital - Bridgeton Saint Louis, MO | — | — | 3411% |
| SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital - Lake St. Louis Lake St. Louis, MO | — | — | 3411% |
| SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital - Richmond Heights Richmond Heights, MO | — | — | 3411% |
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 Paraffin Bath Therapy
CPT code 97018 refers to paraffin bath therapy (billing description: "Paraffin bath therapy"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $6 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $6 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.