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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

Alaska rates for HCPCS 38505

A needle is used to take a tissue sample from a lymph node located close to the skin surface, such as one in the neck, groin, or armpit, to check for infection, inflammation, or cancer. It is a less invasive alternative to open surgical removal of the node.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface cost?

$1,830

Typical total for the visit. In Alaska, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,830 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $316 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,514 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$316$166 to $603
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,514$219 to $4,786

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,514 · 10th to 90th $115 to $6,607Professionalmedian $316 · 10th to 90th $85 to $891
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,514professional $316

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$4,677.35
Typical High
$9,332.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$891.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$288.40
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$891.25
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$1,122.02
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$741.31
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$891.25
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$389.05
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,388.44
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$3,388.44
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$851.14

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 15.0 times more in California than in Delaware. 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

Alaska· 31st of 51

$1,830

$316 physician + $1,514 facility

CA $4,615DE $307

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.