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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

New York 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?

$6,171

Typical total for the visit. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,171 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $417 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,754 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$417$355 to $447
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$5,754$2,239 to $10,000

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,754 · 10th to 90th $1,230 to $14,125Professionalmedian $417 · 10th to 90th $339 to $708
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $5,754professional $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
$1,819.70
Median
$5,623.41
Typical High
$9,772.37
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$489.78
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$8,511.38
Typical High
$15,135.61
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$575.44
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$91.20
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$81.28
CDPHP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$2,951.21
Typical High
$8,912.51
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$602.56
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$12,022.64
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$1,000.00
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,778.28
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$776.25
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$562.34
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$4,365.16
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$1,000.00
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$10,471.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$1,047.13
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$2,398.83
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$562.34
15 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
$218.78
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$223.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$89.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$331.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$44.67
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$309.03
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$537.03
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$60.26
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$60.26
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$478.63
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$346.74
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$501.19
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$107.15
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$107.15
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$446.68

Where New York 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

New York· 8th of 51

$6,171

$417 physician + $5,754 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.