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Chest Telescope With Biopsy Of Heart Sac

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 32604

A thin telescope with a camera is passed through a small incision between the ribs so the surgeon can look inside the chest, and a piece of the sac surrounding the heart is taken for testing. The sample is examined in a laboratory to find the cause of fluid build-up, inflammation, or suspected cancer. It avoids the larger incision needed for open chest surgery.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Chest Telescope With Biopsy Of Heart Sac cost?

$794

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $794 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $692 from a physician practice, and about $6,761 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$692$525 to $1,148
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$6,761$2,344 to $10,000

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6,761 · 10th to 90th $851 to $12,589Professionalmedian $692 · 10th to 90th $468 to $1,413
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $6,761professional $692

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
$467.74
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$8,317.64
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$575.44
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6,760.83
Median
$10,000.00
Typical High
$13,489.63
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,445.44
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$7,413.10
Typical High
$12,302.69
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,258.93
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$8,709.64
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$794.33
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$15,848.93
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,122.02
10 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
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$281.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$112.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$426.58
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$85.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$56.23
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$676.08
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$269.15
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$190.55
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$190.55
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$190.55

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 3.9 times more in Alaska than in New York. 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.

North Carolina· 23rd of 51

$794

AK $1,905NY $490

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.