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Ear Canal Tissue Sample

Rhode Island rates for HCPCS 69105

This procedure removes a small piece of tissue from the external ear canal, the passage leading to the eardrum, so it can be examined under a microscope. It's used to investigate a growth, persistent sore, or unusual-looking area inside the canal that needs a definite diagnosis. It's typically done in an office setting with local numbing.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Ear Canal Tissue Sample cost?

$138

Typical negotiated rate. In Rhode Island, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $138 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $126 from a physician practice, and about $1,202 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$126$77.62 to $170
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,202$676 to $3,715

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,202 · 10th to 90th $186 to $4,898Professionalmedian $126 · 10th to 90th $66 to $245
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,202professional $126

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
$3,715.35
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$3,981.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$169.82
BCBS Rhode Island
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$239.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$1,202.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$295.12
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$5,011.87
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$213.80
5 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
$38.90
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$85.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$33.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$128.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$25.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$16.98

Where Rhode Island sits

The same service costs 5.9 times more in Oklahoma than in Kentucky. 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.

Rhode Island· 35th of 51

$138

OK $468KY $79.43

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.