What the whole left atrial appendage closure (Watchman) costs
A plug placed by catheter to close the heart pouch where clots form. Every bill that usually comes with it, who sends it, and where each number comes from.
National Medicare amounts (payment-area and wage adjustments at 1.0). Facility: OPPS Addendum B, July 2026 (national unadjusted rate); local = rate × (0.6 × wage index + 0.4); ASC Addendum AA, July 2026 (national rate); local = rate × (0.5 × wage index + 0.5); device-intensive (J8) codes keep the device portion unadjusted; FY 2026 IPPS final rule CMS-1833-F, Table 5; standard amounts from Tables 1A-1E; local = weight × (labor × wage index + non-labor + capital × wage index^0.6848). Leaves out teaching (IME), safety-net (DSH) and outlier add-ons. Surgeon: CMS Physician Fee Schedule CY2026 (RVU26D). Anesthesia: CMS base units × the CY2026 anesthesia conversion factor, with an assumed case time. An educational estimate, not a quote.
Line by line (hospital stay)
Hospital stay, MS-DRG 274: $23,953. Billed by The hospital. CMS FY2026 IPPS: MS-DRG 274 weight 3.2917; FY 2026 IPPS final rule CMS-1833-F, Table 5; standard amounts from Tables 1A-1E; local = weight × (labor × wage index + non-labor + capital × wage index^0.6848). Leaves out teaching (IME), safety-net (DSH) and outlier add-ons.
Surgeon, CPT 33340: $619. Billed by The surgeon's group. CMS Physician Fee Schedule CY2026 (RVU26D, Oct 2026 release), facility rate, PFS locality national (GPCI 1.0)
Consultation visit (new patient): $177. Billed by The surgeon's group. CMS PFS CY2026 (RVU26D), non-facility (office) rate, CPT 99204
Blood count (CBC): $8. Billed by The lab. CMS Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule CY2026 Q4 (26CLABQ4), national limit
Basic metabolic panel: $8. Billed by The lab. CMS Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule CY2026 Q4 (26CLABQ4), national limit
Pre-op ECG: $15. Billed by Office or hospital. CMS PFS CY2026 (RVU26D), non-facility (office) rate, CPT 93000
Questions
How much does a left atrial appendage closure (Watchman) cost in total, with every bill?
At national Medicare rates for 2026, the whole left atrial appendage closure (Watchman) comes to about $24,780 in a hospital stay, counting the facility, the surgeon and typical care before and after. Commercial plans usually pay more; local rates differ by area.
Why do I get separate bills for a left atrial appendage closure (Watchman)?
The hospital bills for the facility; the surgeon's group bills for the operation (Surgeon, CPT 33340, about $619 from Medicare nationally); labs, imaging, pathology and therapy each come from their own provider.