go back

Photopheresis (Light Treatment of Blood)

California rates for HCPCS 36522

Blood is drawn through a line, the white blood cells are separated out by a machine, treated with a light-sensitive medicine and exposed to ultraviolet light, and then returned to the body along with the rest of the blood. The treated cells change how the immune system behaves. It is used for conditions such as a skin lymphoma of white blood cells, graft-versus-host disease after a transplant, and rejection of a transplanted organ.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Photopheresis (Light Treatment of Blood) cost?

$1,514

Typical negotiated rate. In California, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,514 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $1,288 from a physician practice, and about $3,890 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 13 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$1,288$132 to $1,995
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$3,890$2,455 to $6,918

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,890 · 10th to 90th $661 to $12,303Professionalmedian $1,288 · 10th to 90th $98 to $6,310
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $3,890professional $1,288

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
$1,445.44
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$15,848.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,737.80
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$158.49
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$5,128.61
Typical High
$10,471.29
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$4,466.84
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$14,125.38
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,995.26
Central California Alliance for Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$4,168.69
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$6,918.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$2,818.38
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$1,905.46
Typical High
$2,951.21
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$2,818.38
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9,332.54
Median
$9,332.54
Typical High
$11,748.98
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,778.28
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$5,623.41
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$2,511.89
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$6,606.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$5,754.40
Typical High
$17,378.01
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$3,548.13
8 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$851.14
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$251.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$851.14
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$1,258.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$13.80
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$251.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$169.82

Where California sits

The same service costs 19.1 times more in Alaska than in Nebraska. 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.

California· 20th of 51

$1,514

AK $3,388NE $178

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.