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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Nevada 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?

$4,348

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,348 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $457 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,890 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$457$407 to $537
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,890$1,660 to $7,413

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,890 · 10th to 90th $1,096 to $9,333Professionalmedian $457 · 10th to 90th $347 to $708
$100$1K$10Kfacility $3,890professional $457

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
$457.09
Median
$2,570.40
Typical High
$6,165.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$457.09
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,570.88
Median
$7,762.47
Typical High
$10,715.19
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$776.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$5,495.41
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$724.44
Hometown Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$707.95
Hometown Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,890.45
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$3,890.45
Hometown Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.33
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$616.60
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$4,265.80
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$831.76
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$4,073.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$660.69
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
$204.17
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$229.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$91.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$61.66
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$45.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$316.23

Where Nevada 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

Nevada· 23rd of 51

$4,348

$457 physician + $3,890 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.