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Vertebral Body Removal to Free the Spinal Cord

Kentucky rates for HCPCS 63102

Removal of part or all of a vertebral body at one level of the back, taking pressure off the spinal cord and the nerve roots leaving it. It is used when bone, a tumor, an infection, or a collapsed vertebra is pressing on the cord from the front. Restoring support to the spine where the bone was taken out is handled as a separate part of the operation.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Vertebral Body Removal to Free the Spinal Cord cost?

$4,693

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,693 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,239 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,455 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$2,239$1,905 to $3,020
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,455$759 to $9,550

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,455 · 10th to 90th $457 to $13,490Professionalmedian $2,239 · 10th to 90th $1,862 to $3,388
$100$1K$10Kfacility $2,455professional $2,239

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
$1,905.46
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$2,630.27
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$2,630.27
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7,244.36
Median
$10,715.19
Typical High
$19,498.45
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$3,019.95
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$1,905.46
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$478.63
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$426.58
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$3,388.44
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$3,548.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$3,801.89
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,187.76
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$12,882.50
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$1,230.27
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$8,317.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,818.38
Typical High
$3,890.45
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
$954.99
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,288.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$512.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$1,949.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$389.05
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$257.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,819.70

Where Kentucky sits

The same service costs 13.8 times more in Maine than in Texas. 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

Kentucky· 33rd of 51

$4,693

$2,239 physician + $2,455 facility

ME $35,114TX $2,545

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.