Cells are collected from a suspicious patch inside the mouth by pressing and rotating a small stiff brush against it firmly enough to pick up the whole thickness of the lining, right down to the layer underneath, not just the loose cells sitting on top. That depth is what makes the sample worth examining, since changes that matter often start below the surface. The sample goes to a laboratory to show whether the area needs to be looked into further.
Rates data updated October 2026.
How much does Full-Thickness Brush Sample Of Mouth Tissue cost?
$72.44
Typical physician fee. In Missouri, October 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $72.44 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $25.12 to $77.62.
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 3 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $87 · 10th to 90th $56 to $407Professionalmedian $72 · 10th to 90th $25 to $617
Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.
Rates by insurance carrier
Insurance Carrier
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$87.10
Facility
None
$74.13
$87.10
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$87.10
Professional
None
$70.79
$72.44
$87.10
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$77.62
Professional
None
$25.12
$67.61
$77.62
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$407.38
Facility
None
$56.23
$138.04
$407.38
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$616.60
Professional
None
$616.60
$616.60
$616.60
3 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
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$66.07
Professional
54 · Surgery only
$52.48
$54.95
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$10.96
Typical High
$13.18
Professional
55 · Aftercare only
$10.47
$10.96
$13.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.08
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$8.71
Professional
56 · Pre-op care only
$7.08
$7.24
$8.71
Where Missouri sits
The same service costs 123.0 times more in Alabama than in New Jersey. 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.