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Rapid Frozen Tissue Exam During Surgery, First Sample

Montana rates for HCPCS 88331

While a patient is in surgery, a pathologist quickly freezes and thinly slices a tissue sample taken from the surgical site, then examines it under a microscope to give the surgical team fast feedback before the operation continues. This covers the first tissue sample examined this way during the procedure. Results are typically available within minutes, quickly enough to guide decisions during the same operation.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Rapid Frozen Tissue Exam During Surgery, First Sample cost?

$174

Typical negotiated rate. In Montana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $174 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $158 to $178.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $174 · 10th to 90th $151 to $229Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $93 to $200
$100$200$500facility $174professional $170

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
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$162.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$181.97
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$158.49
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$169.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$104.71
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$64.57
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$229.09
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$229.09
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$218.78
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$229.09
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$138.04
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$93.33
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$173.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$104.71
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$60.26

Where Montana sits

The same service costs 2.6 times more in Wyoming than in Alabama. 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.

Montana· 3rd of 51

$174

WY $200AL $75.86

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.