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Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping During Surgery

Washington 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 July 2026.

How much does Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping During Surgery cost?

$895

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $895 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $234 to the doctor who performs it, and $661 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 11 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$234$151 to $380
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$661$269 to $3,311

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $661 · 10th to 90th $174 to $9,333Professionalmedian $234 · 10th to 90th $123 to $513
$1.0$10.0$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $661professional $234

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
$173.78
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$9,772.37
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$3,162.28
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$5,128.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$537.03
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$245.47
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$346.74
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$398.11
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$338.84
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$346.74
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$64.57
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$275.42
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$186.21
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$398.11
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$346.74
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$5,754.40
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$389.05
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$245.47

Where Washington sits

The same service costs 26.8 times more in South Carolina than in Maryland. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility feeWashington $895 · 45th of 51
SC $6,656MD $248

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.