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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Idaho 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 October 2026.

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

$5,365

Typical total for the visit. In Idaho, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,365 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $794 to the doctor who performs it, and $4,571 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$794$661 to $851
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$4,571$2,089 to $6,918

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,571 · 10th to 90th $933 to $16,982Professionalmedian $794 · 10th to 90th $525 to $912
$50$200$1K$5K$20Kfacility $4,571professional $794

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$4,466.84
Typical High
$7,762.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$851.14
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$18,620.87
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$891.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,073.80
Median
$4,570.88
Typical High
$6,165.95
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$660.69
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$5,495.41
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,000.00
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$794.33
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,000.00
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12,022.64
Median
$17,378.01
Typical High
$23,442.29
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,000.00
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$6,918.31
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$4,168.69
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$2,398.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$891.25
20 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$426.58
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$630.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$125.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$85.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$588.84
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$794.33
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$89.13
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
63 · Small infant
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,071.52
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$616.60
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$141.25
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$141.25
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$141.25
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$120.23
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$426.58
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$169.82
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$630.96
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$125.89
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$85.11
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$588.84

Where Idaho sits

The same service costs 8.5 times more in Colorado than in Montana. 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.

Physician feeFacility fee

Idaho· 13th of 51

$5,365

$794 physician + $4,571 facility

CO $11,809MT $1,385

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.