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Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping During Surgery

Iowa rates for HCPCS 38900

During a cancer operation the surgical team traces and identifies the first lymph node or nodes that fluid draining from the tumor would reach, known as the sentinel node, so that node can be found and checked for cancer spread. A dye injected at the site may be used to trace the path, and tracing methods such as a radioactive tracer may be used instead or as well. The mapping is billed in addition to the main operation.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping During Surgery cost?

$851

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $851 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $288 to the doctor who performs it, and $562 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$288$224 to $339
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$562$288 to $1,514

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $562 · 10th to 90th $174 to $2,951Professionalmedian $288 · 10th to 90th $155 to $417
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $562professional $288

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
$263.03
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$6,760.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$416.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$371.54
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$416.87
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$1,621.81
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$977.24
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$371.54
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$426.58
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$338.84
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,995.26
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$436.52
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$338.84

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 17.8 times more in Vermont 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

Iowa· 16th of 51

$851

$288 physician + $562 facility

VT $5,439DE $306

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.