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Open Biopsy of a Neck or Lower Back Vertebra

Wyoming 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?

$8,563

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8,563 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $977 to the doctor who performs it, and $7,586 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$977$813 to $1,230
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$7,586$4,467 to $7,586

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $7,586 · 10th to 90th $3,631 to $9,120Professionalmedian $977 · 10th to 90th $575 to $1,479
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $7,586professional $977

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$426.58
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$851.14
BCBS Wyoming
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7,585.78
Median
$7,585.78
Typical High
$7,585.78
BCBS Wyoming
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$812.83
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,479.11
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,370.32
Median
$8,709.64
Typical High
$12,589.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,000.00
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$14,125.38
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,412.54

Where Wyoming 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

Wyoming· 4th of 51

$8,563

$977 physician + $7,586 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.