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Breast Tissue Edge Check During Surgery

California rates for HCPCS 0546T

During breast-conserving cancer surgery, a handheld probe is touched to the surface of the tissue that has just been taken out to check whether cancer cells reach the cut edge. The reading comes back while the operation is still under way, so the surgeon can remove a little more tissue straight away instead of bringing the patient back for a second operation.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Breast Tissue Edge Check During Surgery cost?

$339

Typical negotiated rate. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $339 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $339 from a physician practice, and about $186 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$339$112 to $339
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$186$138 to $380

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $186 · 10th to 90th $102 to $724Professionalmedian $339 · 10th to 90th $98 to $339
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $186professional $339

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7,762.47
Median
$7,762.47
Typical High
$7,762.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$338.84
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$120.23
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$398.11
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$724.44
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$851.14
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$346.74
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$354.81

Where California sits

The same service costs 4.8 times more in Alaska than in Indiana. 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.

California· 2nd of 51

$339

AK $339IN $70.79

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.