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Kidney Scope Through Existing Tract, With Ureter Catheter

Alabama rates for HCPCS 50553

A scope is passed through a drainage tract that already runs through the skin into the kidney, so the inside of the kidney's collecting system can be inspected. A fine tube is then guided down into the ureter, the tube that carries urine to the bladder, and the ureter may be gently stretched open in the process. No new incision into the kidney is made.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Kidney Scope Through Existing Tract, With Ureter Catheter cost?

$4,756

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,756 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $490 to the doctor who performs it, and $4,266 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$490$372 to $617
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$4,266$1,950 to $4,266

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,266 · 10th to 90th $851 to $4,266Professionalmedian $490 · 10th to 90th $316 to $759
$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $4,266professional $490

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
$562.34
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$2,398.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$758.58
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,265.80
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$4,265.80
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$660.69
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$2,570.40
Typical High
$3,235.94
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$562.34
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$4,265.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$524.81
6 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
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$380.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$151.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$562.34
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$61.66
Typical High
$75.86
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$6,456.54
Median
$6,456.54
Typical High
$6,456.54

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 7.0 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

Alabama· 9th of 51

$4,756

$490 physician + $4,266 facility

CO $7,286MT $1,039

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.