Placement of a Breast Radiation Catheter

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 19297

Places a soft catheter into the cavity left after a breast lump is removed, so radiation can later be delivered from inside the breast. The catheter expands to fit the space, stays in for the days of treatment, and is then taken out. It is put in during the same operation that removes the lump and is billed in addition to it.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Placement of a Breast Radiation Catheter cost?

$5,264

Typical total for the visit. Nationwide, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,264 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $135 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,129 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

3% physician fee97% facility fee

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 49 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the bill	Who charges it	Typical	Range
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it	The doctor who performs it	$135	$97.72 to $195
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center	The hospital or surgery center	$5,129	$2,570 to $9,550

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,129 · 10th to 90th $182 to $15,136Professionalmedian $135 · 10th to 90th $83 to $288

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	Facility/Professional	Modifier	Typical Low	Median	Typical High
Aetna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $316.23 Median $5,754.40 Typical High $15,135.61	Facility	Global	$316.23	$5,754.40	$15,135.61
BCBS Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $2,137.96 Median $5,011.87 Typical High $13,803.84	Facility	Global	$2,137.96	$5,011.87	$13,803.84
Cigna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $138.04 Median $269.15 Typical High $851.14	Facility	Global	$138.04	$269.15	$851.14
United Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $2,630.27 Median $8,317.64 Typical High $18,620.87	Facility	Global	$2,630.27	$8,317.64	$18,620.87

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 35.2 times more in Nebraska than in Oregon. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

NE $12,236OR $348

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.