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Upper Arm Dialysis Access Creation

California rates for HCPCS 36818

Creates a dialysis access point in the upper arm by joining a vein directly to an artery, and moving that vein to a shallower, straighter position so it can be reached easily with needles. Over the following weeks the strong arterial flow thickens and enlarges the vein until it can withstand repeated needling.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Upper Arm Dialysis Access Creation cost?

$6,041

Typical total for the visit. In California, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,041 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $912 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,129 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 13 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$912$692 to $1,445
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$5,129$2,188 to $8,913

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,129 · 10th to 90th $955 to $14,454Professionalmedian $912 · 10th to 90th $589 to $4,786
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $5,129professional $912

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$16,218.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$954.99
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$575.44
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,168.69
Median
$8,511.38
Typical High
$16,982.44
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$2,630.27
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$14,125.38
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$1,584.89
Central California Alliance for Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$776.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$8,709.64
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$1,905.46
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$794.33
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,778.28
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,786.30
Median
$4,786.30
Typical High
$5,495.41
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,000.00
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$4,786.30
Typical High
$8,709.64
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,905.46
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,187.76
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$2,187.76
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$19,054.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$2,089.30
4 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$588.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$117.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$77.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$549.54

Where California sits

The same service costs 5.1 times more in Wisconsin than in Montana. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

California· 16th of 51

$6,041

$912 physician + $5,129 facility

WI $10,473MT $2,074

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.