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Ultrasound-Guided Needle Sample in the Esophagus

Montana rates for HCPCS 43232

A flexible scope with an ultrasound probe at its tip is passed through the mouth into the esophagus, giving a detailed picture of the wall of the food pipe and the structures just beyond it. Watching the ultrasound image, a thin needle is passed through the scope to take a sample from a lump, thickened area, or lymph node. The sample is sent for examination under a microscope.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Ultrasound-Guided Needle Sample in the Esophagus cost?

$618

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $618 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $309 to the doctor who performs it, and $309 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$309$257 to $324
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$309$302 to $380

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $309 · 10th to 90th $302 to $1,445Professionalmedian $309 · 10th to 90th $182 to $468
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $309professional $309

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$588.84
BCBS Montana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$309.03
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$4,073.80
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$588.84
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$380.19
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$323.59
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$4,073.80
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$354.81
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,862.09
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$602.56
5 more rates 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
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$295.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$117.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$436.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$58.88

Where Montana sits

The same service costs 6.8 times more in Colorado than in Montana. 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

Montana· 51st of 51

$618

$309 physician + $309 facility

CO $4,179MT $618

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.