go back

Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Minnesota 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?

$3,236

Typical facility fee. In Minnesota, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,236 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $1,175 to $10,000.

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 $3,236 · 10th to 90th $692 to $23,442
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20K$50Kfacility $3,236

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
$407.38
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$4,677.35
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6,760.83
Median
$16,595.87
Typical High
$35,481.34
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$4,073.80
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$3,235.94
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$6,918.31
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$18,620.87

Where Minnesota 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.

Minnesota· 32nd of 50

$3,236

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.