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Surgical Removal of a Breast Lump

North Carolina 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?

$2,231

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,231 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $646 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,585 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$646$513 to $955
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,585$661 to $2,754

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,585 · 10th to 90th $513 to $5,248Professionalmedian $646 · 10th to 90th $407 to $1,202
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,585professional $646

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
$407.38
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$1,584.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$870.96
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$831.76
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$5,495.41
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$1,258.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$3,162.28
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,202.26
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$2,187.76
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$831.76
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,122.02
10 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
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$257.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$102.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$380.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$75.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$354.81
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$4,265.80
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,412.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$2,137.96
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$707.95

Where North Carolina 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

North Carolina· 38th of 51

$2,231

$646 physician + $1,585 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.