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?
$708
Typical facility fee. In South Dakota, July 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $708 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $575 to $851.
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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $724 · 10th to 90th $490 to $4,365Professionalmedian $708 · 10th to 90th $490 to $912
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. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.
Rates by insurance carrier
Insurance Carrier
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$4,365.16
Facility
Global
$416.87
$3,548.13
$4,365.16
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$1,096.48
Facility
Global
$537.03
$691.83
$1,096.48
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$954.99
Professional
Global
$870.96
$954.99
$954.99
Sanford Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$851.14
Professional
Global
$489.78
$707.95
$851.14
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,162.28
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$14,791.08
Facility
Global
$3,162.28
$3,162.28
$14,791.08
Where South Dakota 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.