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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

Delaware 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?

$307

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $307 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $129 to the doctor who performs it, and $178 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$129$81.28 to $178
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$178$81.28 to $2,951

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $178 · 10th to 90th $78 to $7,244Professionalmedian $129 · 10th to 90th $72 to $302
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $178professional $129

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
$77.62
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$7,244.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$302.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$223.87
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$3,548.13
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$8,511.38
Median
$8,511.38
Typical High
$8,511.38
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$100.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$181.97

Where Delaware 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

Delaware· 51st of 51

$307

$129 physician + $178 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.