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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 July 2026.

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

$3,631

Typical facility fee. In Alabama, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,631 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $1,259 to $7,244.

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 3 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,631 · 10th to 90th $871 to $9,120
$1.0K$2.0K$5.0K$10.0Kfacility $3,631

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
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,398.83
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6,456.54
Median
$7,585.78
Typical High
$10,232.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$3,630.78
Typical High
$6,025.60

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 53.7 times more in Indiana than in West Virginia. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Alabama $3,631 · 28th of 50
IN $22,387WV $417

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.