Price Checker / CPT 97026
How much does Infrared Therapy cost?
CPT 97026 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 28x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$10–$20
What this should cost
With insurance
~$130
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$25
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $418 is $403 over the fair price (about 28x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Infrared 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stonewall Jackson Hospital , WV | — | — | 41997% |
| Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island , RI | $645 | $645 | 9550% |
| Highland District Hospital HILLSBORO, OH | $164 | $131 | 2355% |
| Laredo Rehabilitation Hospital, LLC Laredo, TX | $65 | — | 1696% |
| Hamilton Memorial Hospital District MCLEANSBORO, IL | $118 | $118 | 1660% |
| Lexington Regional Rehabilitation Hospital Cayce, SC | $105 | — | 1397% |
| Midlands Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, LLC Elgin, SC | $65 | — | 1247% |
| Spartanburg Rehabilitation Institute, Inc. Spartanburg, SC | $72 | — | 1083% |
| Pawnee County Memorial Hospital PAWNEE CITY, NE | $72 | $58 | 978% |
| Franklin County Memorial Hospital FRANKLIN, MS | $63 | $63 | 843% |
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 Infrared Therapy
CPT code 97026 refers to infrared therapy (billing description: "Infrared therapy"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $7 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $7 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.