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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Iowa 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?

$3,802

Typical facility fee. In Iowa, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,802 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $933 to $6,761.

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 $4,898 · 10th to 90th $724 to $13,490Professionalmedian $776 · 10th to 90th $398 to $2,042
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $4,898professional $776

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
$933.25
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$9,772.37
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$2,137.96
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$17,782.79
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,445.44
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5,495.41
Median
$9,772.37
Typical High
$19,054.61

Where Iowa 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.

Iowa· 24th of 50

$3,802

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.