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Needle Sample Of A Lymph Node Near The Skin Surface

Virginia 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?

$1,185

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,185 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $138 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,047 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$138$89.13 to $200
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,047$174 to $3,236

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $98 to $5,495Professionalmedian $138 · 10th to 90th $79 to $282
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,047professional $138

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
$128.82
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$5,754.40
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$3,467.37
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$3,467.37
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$229.09
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,090.30
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$4,466.84
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$288.40
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$2,511.89
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$275.42
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$489.78
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$281.84
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$257.04
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$3,630.78
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,754.40
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$218.78

Where Virginia 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

Virginia· 44th of 51

$1,185

$138 physician + $1,047 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.