Indwelling catheter latex
Indwelling latex catheter supplies show significant price variations across billing systems, making immediate review of your itemized hospital bill essential to identify unexpected charges.
About the analyst
Kevin Nyk analyzes hospital pricing data at BillRazor Research. He specializes in Medicare reimbursement patterns and chargemaster pricing across U.S. hospitals. Expertise: hospital pricing, Medicare rates, chargemaster analysis.
A4338 covers an indwelling catheter made from latex material, which is a tube that remains inserted in the body to drain fluids or deliver medications. Patients with urinary retention, those requiring long-term bladder drainage, or individuals needing continuous medication access typically receive these devices. This supply code charges approximately 8.5x the Medicare reimbursement rate, with potential billing differences of $127 between outpatient and inpatient settings.
Common billing errors
Common billing errors in Medical & Surgical Supplies procedures often involve duplicate charges for similar supply categories, particularly when surgical kits are unbundled into individual component charges. Healthcare facilities may separately bill for basic surgical supplies that should be included in the primary procedure code, creating potential differences between billed amounts and standard bundled rates. Confusion frequently occurs between diagnostic supply codes and therapeutic supply codes for the same medical encounter, with both appearing on bills when only one is appropriate. Another frequent error involves billing for premium or specialized supplies when standard supplies were actually used, resulting in charges above the benchmark Medicare rate of $128 for this category. Patients should verify that supply charges align with the specific procedures performed and check for multiple entries of similar supply codes on the same service date, as these may indicate improper unbundling of supply packages.
Non-facility rate
$17
Office setting benchmark
Data sources
3
22 data points
What this procedure costs across different settings
The same procedure can cost very different amounts depending on where it's performed. These are the Medicare-allowed amounts — what hospitals actually charge can be 3-10x higher.
| Setting | Medicare rate | vs lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Non-facility (office) | $17 | +2% |
| DME ceiling rate | $17 | Lowest |
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About this data
Rates shown are from the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), Ambulatory Surgery Center Payment System, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, Durable Medical Equipment Fee Schedule, and CMS Inpatient Prospective Payment System (DRG weights). Regional adjustments use CMS Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI). Hospital charges are from CMS Hospital Price Transparency machine-readable files. All data is publicly available under federal law (45 CFR Part 180).
This data is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or financial advice. Actual costs depend on insurance coverage, negotiated rates, and individual circumstances.
Related procedures
FAQ — Medical & Surgical Supplies billing
What is the typical Medicare reimbursement rate for Medical & Surgical Supplies procedures?
How should I code and bill for Medical & Surgical Supplies procedures?
Are there variations in reimbursement rates within the Medical & Surgical Supplies category?
What should I expect if a provider charges above the Medicare benchmark for these supplies?
Related pricing data
Data: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, CMS Inpatient PPS (IPPS), Outpatient PPS (OPPS), ASC Payment System, Clinical Lab Fee Schedule (CLFS), National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). FY 2024 data. All publicly available from CMS.
Methodology: Facility rate applies when the procedure is performed in a hospital or ASC. Non-facility rate applies in a physician office. GPCI adjustments reflect regional cost-of-living differences.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical, financial, or legal advice. Actual costs depend on your insurance and provider. We recommend verifying costs directly with your provider. Full methodology · Terms of use