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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

South 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?

$2,007

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,007 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $145 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,862 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$145$97.72 to $234
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,862$245 to $2,818

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,862 · 10th to 90th $112 to $5,754Professionalmedian $145 · 10th to 90th $78 to $617
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $1,862professional $145

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
$112.20
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$6,165.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$616.60
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$134.90
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$3,162.28
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$239.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$1,148.15
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$281.84
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$275.42
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$10,000.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$223.87

Where South 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

South Carolina· 29th of 51

$2,007

$145 physician + $1,862 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.