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Needle Drainage of Abscess or Cyst

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 10160

A needle is used to puncture and drain fluid from an abscess, cyst, blister, or blood-filled pocket under the skin, without making a larger incision. It's a quick way to relieve pressure and reduce swelling from a fluid-filled pocket.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Needle Drainage of Abscess or Cyst cost?

$170

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $170 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $129 from a physician practice, and about $372 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 7 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$129$102 to $219
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$372$200 to $1,000

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $372 · 10th to 90th $126 to $5,012Professionalmedian $129 · 10th to 90th $89 to $347
$100.0$200.0$500.0$1.0K$2.0K$5.0K$10.0Kfacility $372professional $129

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
$125.89
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$5,011.87
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$346.74
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$208.93
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$309.03
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$263.03
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$190.55
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$181.97
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$2,089.30
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$218.78
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$1,659.59
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$478.63
Wellcare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$1,096.48

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 3.0 times more in Alaska than in Delaware. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

North Carolina $170 · 22nd of 51
AK $331DE $112

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.