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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Nebraska 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?

$5,422

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,422 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $955 to the doctor who performs it, and $4,467 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$955$759 to $1,096
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$4,467$1,905 to $7,586

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,467 · 10th to 90th $1,148 to $11,482Professionalmedian $955 · 10th to 90th $501 to $4,677
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $4,467professional $955

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
$4,365.16
Median
$7,244.36
Typical High
$17,378.01
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$1,380.38
BCBS Nebraska
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6,760.83
Median
$8,912.51
Typical High
$18,197.01
BCBS Nebraska
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,011.87
Median
$5,370.32
Typical High
$5,754.40
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$6,456.54
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$1,000.00
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$19,952.62
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$4,677.35
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,258.93
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$5,128.61
Typical High
$6,760.83
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,318.26
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$8,912.51
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$1,148.15
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
$190.55
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$331.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$131.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$489.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$97.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$457.09

Where Nebraska 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

Nebraska· 11th of 51

$5,422

$955 physician + $4,467 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.