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Telescope Removal of a Kidney or Ureter Stone

California rates for HCPCS 52353

A slim telescope is passed up through the urethra and bladder into the ureter, and sometimes on into the kidney, until the stone is in view. Energy delivered through the scope — usually a laser fiber — breaks the stone into fragments small enough to be picked out or passed naturally. Nothing is cut on the outside; a temporary internal drainage tube is often left afterwards and is billed separately.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Telescope Removal of a Kidney or Ureter Stone cost?

$6,457

Typical facility fee. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,457 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $3,981 to $9,550.

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 10 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6,607 · 10th to 90th $3,236 to $14,125Professionalmedian $427 · 10th to 90th $339 to $832
$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $6,607professional $427

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
$3,630.78
Median
$8,912.51
Typical High
$19,054.61
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
22 · Increased work
Typical Low
$23,442.29
Median
$23,442.29
Typical High
$23,442.29
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$15,135.61
Median
$19,054.61
Typical High
$23,442.29
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,548.13
Median
$6,025.60
Typical High
$13,489.63
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$12,882.50
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$3,801.89
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$537.03
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$831.76
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$15,488.17
Median
$33,884.42
Typical High
$33,884.42
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$977.24
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6,606.93
Median
$6,606.93
Typical High
$6,606.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6,760.83
Median
$11,481.54
Typical High
$25,118.86

Where California sits

The same service costs 18.6 times more in Indiana than in Maryland. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

California $6,457 · 15th of 51
IN $10,965MD $589

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.