go back

Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Washington, DC 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?

$4,074

Typical facility fee. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,074 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $2,138 to $6,457.

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 $4,074 · 10th to 90th $447 to $7,762Professionalmedian $891 · 10th to 90th $447 to $977
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $4,074professional $891

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
$446.68
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$7,762.47
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$977.24
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,235.94
Median
$14,791.08
Typical High
$38,018.94

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 53.7 times more in Indiana than in West Virginia. 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.

Washington, DC· 21st of 50

$4,074

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.