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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Alaska rates for HCPCS 20251

Through an incision, the surgeon exposes the body of a vertebra in the neck or the lower back and takes a sample of bone from it for laboratory examination. It is used when imaging shows infection, a growth, or unexplained destruction of the bone and a diagnosis is needed. Open sampling is chosen when a needle sample is not possible or has not given an answer.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra cost?

$10,016

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $10,016 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,698 to the doctor who performs it, and $8,318 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$1,698$1,096 to $1,905
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$8,318$4,786 to $10,471

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8,318 · 10th to 90th $2,570 to $14,125Professionalmedian $1,698 · 10th to 90th $437 to $2,188
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $8,318professional $1,698

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$10,964.78
Typical High
$16,595.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$12,882.50
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,754.40
Median
$9,549.93
Typical High
$28,840.32
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,380.38
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$2,884.03
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$2,454.71
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,981.07
Median
$7,762.47
Typical High
$9,332.54
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,698.24
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$9,120.11
Typical High
$20,417.38
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$1,380.38
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,570.40
Median
$7,079.46
Typical High
$10,471.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$2,398.83

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 8.5 times more in Colorado than in Montana. 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

Alaska· 2nd of 51

$10,016

$1,698 physician + $8,318 facility

CO $11,809MT $1,385

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.