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Ultrasound-Guided Needle Sample in the Esophagus

North Carolina 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?

$1,650

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,650 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $603 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$603$347 to $617
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,047$631 to $1,738

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $479 to $3,311Professionalmedian $603 · 10th to 90th $282 to $794
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,047professional $603

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
$194.98
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$467.74
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$2,754.23
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$891.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,819.70
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$616.60
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$457.09
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,258.93
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$371.54
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$331.13
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$4,365.16
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$501.19
7 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
$97.72
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$123.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$186.21
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$37.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$19.50
Typical High
$24.55
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$851.14
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$229.09

Where North Carolina 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

North Carolina· 27th of 51

$1,650

$603 physician + $1,047 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.