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Removal of a Growth Outside the Spinal Sac, Low Spine

Colorado rates for HCPCS 63278

Removes part of the bony arch at the base of the spine to reach and take out a growth that sits outside the tough sac surrounding the spinal nerves, in the sacral region above the tailbone. Because the sac is not opened, the nerves inside are left undisturbed. It is done to relieve pressure on the nerves and to find out what the growth is.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal of a Growth Outside the Spinal Sac, Low Spine cost?

$15,370

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $15,370 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,188 to the doctor who performs it, and $13,183 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$2,188$1,820 to $2,884
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$13,183$3,090 to $16,596

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $13,183 · 10th to 90th $1,096 to $21,380Professionalmedian $2,188 · 10th to 90th $1,549 to $3,548
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $13,183professional $2,188

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
$2,570.40
Median
$6,025.60
Typical High
$10,715.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$2,398.83
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9,772.37
Median
$15,135.61
Typical High
$25,703.96
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$2,570.40
Typical High
$3,801.89
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$6,760.83
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$2,884.03
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,890.45
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$3,235.94
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$3,235.94
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$2,344.23
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$7,762.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$3,311.31
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
$776.25
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$812.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$323.59
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,202.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$162.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$1,122.02

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 15.3 times more in Maine than in Delaware. 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

Colorado· 3rd of 51

$15,370

$2,188 physician + $13,183 facility

ME $34,309DE $2,240

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.