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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

Colorado 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?

$3,473

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,473 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $162 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,311 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$162$93.33 to $219
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,311$1,122 to $5,495

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,311 · 10th to 90th $174 to $7,943Professionalmedian $162 · 10th to 90th $83 to $302
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $3,311professional $162

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
$173.78
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$5,888.44
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$660.69
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$309.03
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,548.13
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$10,964.78
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$323.59
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$288.40
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$245.47
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$407.38
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$371.54
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$112.20
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$6,309.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$275.42

Where Colorado 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

Colorado· 7th of 51

$3,473

$162 physician + $3,311 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.