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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Alabama 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?

$7,251

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,251 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $490 to the doctor who performs it, and $6,761 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$490$417 to $676
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$6,761$2,570 to $6,761

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6,761 · 10th to 90th $1,122 to $6,761Professionalmedian $490 · 10th to 90th $355 to $676
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $6,761professional $490

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
$776.25
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$2,398.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$676.08
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6,760.83
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$6,760.83
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
21 + 22 · Increased work + 24 · Unrelated visit after surgery
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$645.65
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$4,365.16
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$537.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$5,370.32
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$676.08
6 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
$338.84
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$138.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$512.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$102.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$478.63

Where Alabama 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

Alabama· 5th of 51

$7,251

$490 physician + $6,761 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.