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Rapid Frozen Tissue Exam During Surgery, First Sample

Washington 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?

$123

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $123 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $123 from a physician practice, and about $151 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 11 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$123$89.13 to $151
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$151$117 to $245

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $151 · 10th to 90th $81 to $525Professionalmedian $123 · 10th to 90th $63 to $240
$50$100$200$500$1Kfacility $151professional $123

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
$63.10
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$151.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$177.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$63.10
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$162.18
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$47.86
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$275.42
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$173.78
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$112.20
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$138.04
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$61.66
Typical High
$89.13
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$54.95
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$707.95
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$724.44
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$724.44
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$269.15
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$165.96
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$112.20
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$56.23
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$199.53
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$275.42
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$165.96
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$112.20
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$269.15
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$173.78
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$104.71
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$97.72
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$204.17
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$35.48
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$131.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$70.79
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$112.20
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$63.10
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$47.86

Where Washington 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.

Washington· 12th of 51

$123

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.