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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

Tennessee 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?

$1,717

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,717 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $132 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,585 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$132$87.10 to $174
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,585$741 to $2,399

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,585 · 10th to 90th $155 to $3,715Professionalmedian $132 · 10th to 90th $72 to $269
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,585professional $132

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
$138.04
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$2,818.38
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$3,311.31
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$3,467.37
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$263.03
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$177.83
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$2,951.21
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$257.04
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$933.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$275.42
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4,168.69
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$19,498.45
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,445.44
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$3,890.45
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$245.47

Where Tennessee 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

Tennessee· 36th of 51

$1,717

$132 physician + $1,585 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.