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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Colorado 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?

$10,715

Typical facility fee. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $10,715 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $3,311 to $20,417.

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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $10,715 · 10th to 90th $562 to $35,481Professionalmedian $661 · 10th to 90th $427 to $2,630
$500.0$1.0K$2.0K$5.0K$10.0K$20.0K$50.0Kfacility $10,715professional $661

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. 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
Global
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$8,912.51
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14,125.38
Median
$20,892.96
Typical High
$38,904.51
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$15,848.93
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$870.96
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$2,630.27
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$891.25
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,235.94
Median
$6,918.31
Typical High
$15,135.61

Where Colorado 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.

Colorado $10,715 · 4th 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.