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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

Kentucky 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?

$1,821

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,821 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $123 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,698 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$123$79.43 to $162
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,698$380 to $2,570

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,698 · 10th to 90th $135 to $3,631Professionalmedian $123 · 10th to 90th $72 to $214
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,698professional $123

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
$120.23
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$3,715.35
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$218.78
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$95.50
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$2,951.21
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$194.98
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$151.36
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$218.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$1,318.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$1,000.00
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$4,168.69
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$208.93

Where Kentucky 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

Kentucky· 32nd of 51

$1,821

$123 physician + $1,698 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.