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Ultrasound of Head and Neck Soft Tissues

California rates for HCPCS 76536

An ultrasound exam of the soft tissues of the head and neck, using sound waves to produce live images. It is most often used to look at the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the salivary glands, or lymph nodes and other soft tissue swellings anywhere in the head or neck. No radiation is involved.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Ultrasound of Head and Neck Soft Tissues cost?

$166

Typical negotiated rate. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $166 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $158 from a physician practice, and about $427 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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 15 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$158$120 to $295
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$427$162 to $741

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $427 · 10th to 90th $115 to $1,047Professionalmedian $158 · 10th to 90th $105 to $589
$50.0$200.0$1.0K$5.0Kfacility $427professional $158

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
$144.54
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$1,318.26
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$72.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$602.56
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$141.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$245.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$489.78
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$251.19
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$64.57
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$181.97
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$575.44
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$302.00
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$70.79
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$229.09
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$602.56
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$229.09
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$72.44
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$177.83
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$707.95
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$22.39
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$281.84
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$67.61
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$229.09
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$194.98
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$13.80
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$40.74
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$154.88
HealthNet
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$660.69
HealthNet
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$56.23
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$234.42
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$63.10
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$223.87
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$724.44
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$169.82
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$912.01
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$269.15
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$707.95
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$125.89
Optum
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$70.79
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$263.03
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$22.39
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$295.12
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$63.10
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$218.78
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$389.05
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$91.20
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$295.12
The Alliance
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$154.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$263.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$354.81
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$100.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$295.12

Where California sits

The same service costs 4.3 times more in West Virginia than in Washington, DC. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

California $166 · 20th of 51
WV $457DC $107

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.