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Surgical Removal of a Breast Lump

California rates for HCPCS 19120

A surgeon makes an incision to remove a lump, cyst, or other abnormal area of tissue from the breast, along with a margin of surrounding tissue, and sends it to a lab for examination. This can be done to treat a benign growth or to remove and evaluate tissue that may be cancerous. It differs from a needle biopsy in that the tissue is removed surgically rather than sampled with a needle.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Surgical Removal of a Breast Lump cost?

$2,177

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,177 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $479 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,698 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$479$407 to $692
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,698$1,023 to $4,571

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,698 · 10th to 90th $676 to $8,710Professionalmedian $479 · 10th to 90th $347 to $1,549
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $1,698professional $479

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
$457.09
Median
$6,456.54
Typical High
$15,848.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$831.76
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$346.74
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,168.69
Median
$8,128.31
Typical High
$16,982.44
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$1,445.44
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$7,585.78
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$977.24
Central California Alliance for Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$776.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$4,786.30
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$954.99
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$776.25
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$1,318.26
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,715.35
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$5,011.87
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$741.31
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$5,495.41
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$1,023.29
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,466.84
Median
$4,466.84
Typical High
$4,466.84
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,621.81
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$5,754.40
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$1,288.25
13 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$229.09
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$91.20
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$35.48
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$45.71
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$316.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$229.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$91.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$35.48
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$45.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$316.23
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,096.48

Where California sits

The same service costs 7.2 times more in Vermont than in Maine. 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· 40th of 51

$2,177

$479 physician + $1,698 facility

VT $9,370ME $1,294

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.