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Open Biopsy or Removal of Groin Lymph Nodes

Massachusetts rates for HCPCS 38531

Through an incision in the groin, one or more lymph nodes from the groin and upper thigh region are taken out and sent to a laboratory. This is done to find out whether cancer, infection or another disease is present in the nodes. It is an open procedure rather than a needle sample, so a whole node can be examined.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Open Biopsy or Removal of Groin Lymph Nodes cost?

$2,384

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,384 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $724 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,660 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 10 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$724$525 to $1,202
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,660$676 to $3,311

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,660 · 10th to 90th $501 to $6,166Professionalmedian $724 · 10th to 90th $417 to $3,162
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,660professional $724

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$3,715.35
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$602.56
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$6,606.93
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$3,162.28
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$1,096.48
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$3,090.30
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$1,380.38
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$3,311.31
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$741.31
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$2,818.38
Typical High
$7,762.47
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,548.82
Health New England
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,388.44
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$4,073.80
Health New England
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$489.78
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$6,606.93
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$3,162.28
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$2,818.38
Typical High
$10,471.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$1,548.82
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,096.48
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$416.87
1 more rate with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$204.17

Where Massachusetts sits

The same service costs 5.4 times more in Wisconsin than in Kentucky. 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· 44th of 51

$2,384

$724 physician + $1,660 facility

WI $7,004KY $1,288

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.