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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Georgia 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?

$4,898

Typical facility fee. In Georgia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,898 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $2,188 to $7,586.

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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,129 · 10th to 90th $1,175 to $11,749Professionalmedian $617 · 10th to 90th $457 to $1,585
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $5,129professional $617

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
$691.83
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$9,549.93
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$5,128.61
Typical High
$12,882.50
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$4,786.30
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,584.89
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$8,511.38

Where Georgia 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.

Georgia· 15th of 50

$4,898

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.