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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Massachusetts 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?

$3,311

Typical facility fee. In Massachusetts, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,311 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $2,089 to $4,677.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,311 · 10th to 90th $550 to $7,762
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20K$50Kfacility $3,311

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
$1,778.28
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,128.61
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$45,708.82
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$3,630.78
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$11,220.18
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$45,708.82
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,041.74
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$15,135.61

Where Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts· 31st of 50

$3,311

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.