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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

Massachusetts 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?

$1,683

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,683 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $170 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$170$95.50 to $302
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,514$138 to $2,570

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,514 · 10th to 90th $98 to $3,715Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $72 to $468
$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $1,514professional $170

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
$109.65
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$3,715.35
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$3,388.44
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$3,388.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$512.86
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$19,498.45
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$501.19
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$229.09
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$446.68
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$426.58
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$3,630.78
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$302.00
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$3,630.78
Typical High
$8,511.38
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$436.52
Health New England
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$2,570.40
Typical High
$3,890.45
Health New England
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$87.10
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$19,498.45
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$501.19
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$3,630.78
Typical High
$8,511.38
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$478.63

Where Massachusetts 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

Massachusetts· 37th of 51

$1,683

$170 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.