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Temporal Artery Ligation or Biopsy

Massachusetts rates for HCPCS 37609

This procedure involves tying off or removing a small piece of the temporal artery, a blood vessel that runs along the side of the head near the temple. It is most often performed to obtain a tissue sample when a condition called giant cell (temporal) arteritis is suspected, an inflammatory condition affecting arteries that can threaten vision if untreated. It can also be done to control bleeding from this vessel.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Temporal Artery Ligation or Biopsy cost?

$1,033

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,033 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $457 to the doctor who performs it, and $575 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 10 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$457$302 to $708
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$575$295 to $1,585

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $575 · 10th to 90th $219 to $3,548Professionalmedian $457 · 10th to 90th $214 to $1,413
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $575professional $457

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
$691.83
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$3,715.35
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$549.54
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$3,630.78
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$2,344.23
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$478.63
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$660.69
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,445.44
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$794.33
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$3,311.31
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$549.54
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$5,128.61
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$954.99
Health New England
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$6,025.60
Typical High
$12,022.64
Health New England
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$588.84
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$3,630.78
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$2,344.23
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$6,456.54
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$1,071.52
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$489.78
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$223.87
7 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
$70.79
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$288.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$436.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$57.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$407.38
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$208.93

Where Massachusetts sits

The same service costs 6.1 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

Massachusetts· 48th of 51

$1,033

$457 physician + $575 facility

CO $4,737MT $778

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.