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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Indiana 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?

$6,935

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,935 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $479 to the doctor who performs it, and $6,457 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$479$407 to $550
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$6,457$2,291 to $14,454

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6,457 · 10th to 90th $871 to $28,840Professionalmedian $479 · 10th to 90th $380 to $741
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $6,457professional $479

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
$389.05
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$11,220.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$457.09
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$14,454.40
Typical High
$33,113.11
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$691.83
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$117.49
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$100.00
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$7,244.36
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$7,762.47
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$2,570.40
Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$6,606.93
Typical High
$10,471.29
Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$851.14
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$9,120.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$741.31
6 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
$181.97
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$223.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$89.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$331.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$36.31
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$44.67
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$309.03

Where Indiana 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

Indiana· 7th of 51

$6,935

$479 physician + $6,457 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.