go back

Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Kentucky 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?

$2,708

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,708 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $417 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,291 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$417$372 to $575
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,291$912 to $4,266

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,291 · 10th to 90th $490 to $8,318Professionalmedian $417 · 10th to 90th $347 to $661
$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $2,291professional $417

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
$363.08
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$2,630.27
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$489.78
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$8,709.64
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$602.56
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$97.72
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$85.11
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$5,888.44
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$660.69
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$4,466.84
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$2,570.40
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$257.04
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$5,128.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$741.31
7 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
$204.17
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$97.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$363.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$61.66
Typical High
$72.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$36.31
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$338.84
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$41.69

Where Kentucky 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

Kentucky· 43rd of 51

$2,708

$417 physician + $2,291 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.