Price Checker / CPT 99478
How much does "sbsq Ic Vlbw Inf<1 cost?
CPT 99478 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 25x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$310–$360
What this should cost
With insurance
~$810
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$450
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $8,335 is $7,995 over the fair price (about 25x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for "sbsq Ic Vlbw Inf<1
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentia Health-Ada ADA, MN | — | — | 7092% |
| Essentia Health-Deer River DEER RIVER, MN | — | — | 7092% |
| Essentia Health-Fosston FOSSTON, MN | — | — | 7092% |
| Essentia Health-Holy Trinity Hospital (Graceville) GRACEVILLE, MN | — | — | 7092% |
| Essentia Health-Northern Pines (Aurora) Fargo, MN | — | — | 7092% |
| Essentia Health-Sandstone SANDSTONE, MN | — | — | 7092% |
| "Essentia Health St. Mary's Hospital-Superior" Fargo, WI | — | — | 7092% |
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 "sbsq Ic Vlbw Inf<1
CPT code 99478 refers to "sbsq ic vlbw inf<1 (billing description: ""Sbsq ic vlbw inf<1"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $116 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.