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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

North Carolina 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?

$1,103

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,103 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $170 to the doctor who performs it, and $933 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$170$97.72 to $240
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$933$209 to $2,344

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $933 · 10th to 90th $115 to $5,248Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $72 to $380
$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $933professional $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
$117.49
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$5,495.41
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$7,413.10
Median
$7,413.10
Typical High
$7,413.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$380.19
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$213.80
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$323.59
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$316.23
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$245.47
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$316.23
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$7,079.46
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$234.42
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4,168.69
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$19,498.45
Wellcare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,445.44

Where North Carolina 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

North Carolina· 45th of 51

$1,103

$170 physician + $933 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.