go back

Heat Ablation of a Lung Tumor Through the Skin

Virginia rates for HCPCS 32998

A needle-like probe is passed through the chest wall into a lung tumor under imaging guidance, and radiofrequency energy heats the tissue until the tumor is destroyed. One side of the chest is treated in a session, and the treatment can extend into tumor that has grown into the lining of the lung or the chest wall. It is an option when surgical removal is not suitable.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Heat Ablation of a Lung Tumor Through the Skin cost?

$8,459

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8,459 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,570 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,888 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$2,570$479 to $3,548
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$5,888$2,630 to $10,965

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,888 · 10th to 90th $575 to $15,488Professionalmedian $2,570 · 10th to 90th $407 to $4,467
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $5,888professional $2,570

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
$501.19
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$10,964.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$3,981.07
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8,511.38
Median
$11,220.18
Typical High
$12,589.25
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$3,890.45
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$5,888.44
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$6,918.31
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$6,760.83
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$4,677.35
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$4,265.80
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,890.45
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$4,897.79
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$6,456.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,467.37
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$3,467.37
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$11,481.54
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,019.95
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$10,232.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,570.40
Median
$10,000.00
Typical High
$25,118.86
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$6,165.95
1 more rate 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
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$3,019.95

Where Virginia sits

The same service costs 3.2 times more in Wisconsin than in Maryland. 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

Virginia· 11th of 51

$8,459

$2,570 physician + $5,888 facility

WI $12,835MD $4,070

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.