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Vertebral Body Removal to Free the Spinal Cord

Minnesota 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?

$8,286

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8,286 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $4,571 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,715 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$4,571$3,548 to $6,166
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,715$2,138 to $6,918

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,715 · 10th to 90th $1,148 to $18,621Professionalmedian $4,571 · 10th to 90th $2,188 to $8,318
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20K$50Kfacility $3,715professional $4,571

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
$2,137.96
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$2,137.96
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$1,584.89
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$316.23
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,479.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$2,344.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$1,737.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$346.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,621.81
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12,302.69
Median
$32,359.37
Typical High
$69,183.10
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,715.35
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$7,585.78
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$2,951.21
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$6,025.60
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,479.11
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$3,090.30
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$6,309.57
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,548.13
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$10,471.29
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,388.44
Median
$5,754.40
Typical High
$8,912.51
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,162.28
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$8,709.64
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,019.95
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$8,511.38
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$4,570.88
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$16,218.10
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$8,317.64
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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,071.52
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$426.58
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$213.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,148.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$457.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$229.09
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$4,570.88

Where Minnesota 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

Minnesota· 13th of 51

$8,286

$4,571 physician + $3,715 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.