Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comSentinel lymph node biopsy (underarm): what insurers pay
Removing the first lymph nodes a breast cancer drains to. Commercial negotiated rates by hospital and market, next to Medicare for the same code.
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CPT 38525: Biopsy/Removal Lymph Nodes
95 hospitals in 36 markets. National Medicare rate $4,000, surgery center $1,603.
| Market | Hospitals | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Low–high |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta GA | 1 | — | — | — | $4,361–$4,361 |
| Austin TX | 2 | — | — | — | $2,908–$5,926 |
| Boston MA | 7 | $5,123 | $5,982 | $6,484 | $4,086–$6,777 |
| California (statewide) | 1 | — | — | — | $11,297–$11,297 |
| Chicago IL | 6 | $4,707 | $5,532 | $6,240 | $4,038–$7,912 |
| Cleveland OH | 5 | $5,553 | $6,238 | $7,956 | $3,256–$8,019 |
| Columbus OH | 1 | — | — | — | $23,883–$23,883 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth TX | 4 | — | — | — | $4,302–$10,818 |
| Denver CO | 7 | $4,527 | $4,764 | $4,994 | $4,300–$5,980 |
| Detroit MI | 6 | $3,001 | $3,200 | $3,850 | $3,001–$5,812 |
| Georgia (statewide) | 1 | — | — | — | $4,797–$4,797 |
| Houston TX | 1 | — | — | — | $3,849–$3,849 |
| Illinois (statewide) | 1 | — | — | — | $4,286–$4,286 |
| Kansas (statewide) | 1 | — | — | — | $3,708–$3,708 |
| Las Vegas NV | 1 | — | — | — | $4,232–$4,232 |
| Los Angeles CA | 2 | — | — | — | $8,997–$14,342 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale FL | 1 | — | — | — | $5,752–$5,752 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul MN | 1 | — | — | — | $5,043–$5,043 |
| Nashville TN | 3 | — | — | — | $2,895–$3,928 |
| New York (statewide) | 1 | — | — | — | $5,783–$5,783 |
| New York City | 2 | — | — | — | $7,084–$13,586 |
| Ohio (statewide) | 1 | — | — | — | $5,758–$5,758 |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | 1 | — | — | — | $8,526–$8,526 |
| Philadelphia PA | 5 | $3,640 | $6,648 | $6,993 | $3,453–$8,155 |
| Phoenix AZ | 3 | — | — | — | $2,968–$3,039 |
| Pittsburgh PA | 1 | — | — | — | $4,387–$4,387 |
| Portland OR | 6 | $8,704 | $8,704 | $11,922 | $8,704–$12,994 |
| Richmond VA | 2 | — | — | — | $5,708–$6,046 |
| San Antonio TX | 1 | — | — | — | $3,695–$3,695 |
| San Diego CA | 1 | — | — | — | $5,036–$5,036 |
| San Francisco Bay Area CA | 3 | — | — | — | $11,715–$19,507 |
| Seattle-Tacoma WA | 6 | $11,830 | $12,802 | $15,342 | $10,426–$16,891 |
| St. Louis MO | 3 | — | — | — | $4,953–$4,953 |
| Tampa FL | 2 | — | — | — | $3,630–$6,342 |
| Washington DC | 4 | — | — | — | $3,727–$6,750 |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | 1 | — | — | — | $4,812–$4,812 |
| Hospital | Market | Median across insurers | × Medicare | Insurers | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center | Nashville TN | $2,895 | 0.8× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin | Austin TX | $2,908 | 0.7× | 1 | 2026-01-01 |
| HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center | Phoenix AZ | $2,968 | 0.7× | 4 | 2026-04-01 |
| Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital | Detroit MI | $3,001 | 0.8× | 1 | 2026-05-01 |
| Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospit | Detroit MI | $3,001 | 0.8× | 1 | 2026-05-01 |
| Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital | Detroit MI | $3,001 | 0.8× | 1 | 2026-05-01 |
| HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center | Phoenix AZ | $3,039 | 0.7× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center | Phoenix AZ | $3,039 | 0.7× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center | Cleveland OH | $3,256 | 0.9× | 3 | 2026-07-14 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital (Midtown + West) | Nashville TN | $3,284 | 0.9× | 1 | 2026-01-01 |
| Trinity Health Oakland Hospital | Detroit MI | $3,398 | 0.9× | 16 | 2026-03-31 |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital | Philadelphia PA | $3,453 | 0.9× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Tampa General Hospital | Tampa FL | $3,630 | 0.9× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Bryn Mawr Hospital | Philadelphia PA | $3,640 | 0.9× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Methodist Hospital | San Antonio TX | $3,695 | 0.9× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| Menorah Medical Center | Kansas (statewide) | $3,708 | 1.0× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| George Washington Univ Hospital | Washington DC | $3,727 | 0.8× | 3 | 2026-09-01 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital | Houston TX | $3,849 | 1.0× | 6 | 2026-04-01 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville TN | $3,928 | 1.1× | 6 | 2025-10-01 |
| Henry Ford Health Rochester Hospital | Detroit MI | $4,001 | 1.0× | 1 | 2026-01-01 |
| Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital | Chicago IL | $4,038 | 1.0× | 3 | 2026-04-01 |
| Beverly Hospital Corporation | Boston MA | $4,086 | 0.9× | 4 | 2026-04-01 |
| University Medical Center of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas NV | $4,232 | 1.0× | 7 | 2026-07-01 |
| Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center | Illinois (statewide) | $4,286 | 1.0× | 2 | 2026-06-03 |
| Adventhealth Porter | Denver CO | $4,300 | 1.0× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Adventhealth Parker | Denver CO | $4,300 | 1.0× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Baylor University Medical Center | Dallas-Fort Worth TX | $4,302 | 1.1× | 3 | 2026-06-29 |
| Emory University Hospital | Atlanta GA | $4,361 | 1.1× | 6 | 2026-04-01 |
| Upmc Presbyterian Shadyside | Pittsburgh PA | $4,387 | 1.1× | 1 | 2026-03-06 |
| Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital | Chicago IL | $4,548 | 1.1× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| HCA HealthONE Presbyterian/St. Luke's | Denver CO | $4,754 | 1.1× | 4 | 2026-09-01 |
| HCA HealthONE Swedish | Denver CO | $4,764 | 1.1× | 4 | 2026-09-01 |
| Emory Houston Hospital Warner Robins | Georgia (statewide) | $4,797 | 1.4× | 3 | 2026-04-01 |
| Orthopaedic Hospital Of Wisconsin | Wisconsin (statewide) | $4,812 | 1.2× | 3 | 2026-01-01 |
| New England Baptist Hospital | Boston MA | $4,846 | 1.0× | 3 | 2026-04-01 |
| Mercy Hospital St Louis | St. Louis MO | $4,953 | 1.3× | 1 | 2026-06-04 |
| Mercy Hospital Jefferson | St. Louis MO | $4,953 | 1.3× | 1 | 2026-06-10 |
| Mercy Hospital South | St. Louis MO | $4,953 | 1.3× | 1 | 2026-06-10 |
| HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge | Denver CO | $4,984 | 1.2× | 4 | 2026-09-01 |
| Hca Healthone Rose | Denver CO | $5,004 | 1.2× | 4 | 2026-09-01 |
| Scripps Green Hospital | San Diego CA | $5,036 | 1.0× | 1 | 2026-03-30 |
| Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital | Minneapolis-St. Paul MN | $5,043 | 1.2× | 3 | 2026-03-31 |
| Endeavor Health Edward Hospital | Chicago IL | $5,184 | 1.2× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Medical City Mckinney | Dallas-Fort Worth TX | $5,381 | 1.4× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Plymouth | Boston MA | $5,400 | 1.1× | 1 | 2026-04-01 |
| Medina Hospital | Cleveland OH | $5,553 | 1.5× | 3 | 2026-06-15 |
| Medical City Plano | Dallas-Fort Worth TX | $5,640 | 1.4× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| Henrico Doctors' Hospital | Richmond VA | $5,708 | 1.5× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| Cleveland Clinic Hospital | Miami-Fort Lauderdale FL | $5,752 | 1.4× | 2 | 2026-06-15 |
| Bethesda North | Ohio (statewide) | $5,758 | 1.5× | 4 | 2026-04-01 |
| Stony Brook University Hospital | New York (statewide) | $5,783 | 1.2× | 5 | 2026-06-10 |
| Harper University Hospital | Detroit MI | $5,812 | 1.5× | 1 | 2026-09-02 |
| Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital | Chicago IL | $5,881 | 1.4× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| St David's Medical Center | Austin TX | $5,926 | 1.5× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital | Denver CO | $5,980 | 1.4× | 3 | 2025-11-01 |
| Anna Jaques Hospital | Boston MA | $5,982 | 1.3× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| CJW Medical Center (Chippenham + Johnston-Willis) | Richmond VA | $6,046 | 1.6× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital | Washington DC | $6,158 | 1.5× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington | Boston MA | $6,218 | 1.3× | 1 | 2026-04-01 |
| Cleveland Clinic (main campus) | Cleveland OH | $6,238 | 1.7× | 3 | 2026-06-16 |
| Morton Plant Hospital | Tampa FL | $6,342 | 1.6× | 2 | 2026-01-01 |
| Loyola University Medical Center | Chicago IL | $6,360 | 1.5× | 1 | 2026-03-31 |
| Jefferson Stratford Hospital | Philadelphia PA | $6,648 | 1.5× | 3 | 2026-09-15 |
| Reston Hospital Center | Washington DC | $6,726 | 1.7× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | Boston MA | $6,750 | 1.4× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Stonesprings Hospital Center | Washington DC | $6,750 | 1.7× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| Winchester Hospital | Boston MA | $6,777 | 1.4× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Thomas Jefferson University Hospital | Philadelphia PA | $6,993 | 1.7× | 3 | 2026-09-15 |
| Montefiore Medical Center | New York City | $7,084 | 1.4× | 8 | 2026-04-01 |
| University of Chicago Medical Center | Chicago IL | $7,912 | 1.9× | 2 | 2026-04-01 |
| Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital | Cleveland OH | $7,956 | 2.1× | 2 | 2026-06-15 |
| Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital | Cleveland OH | $8,019 | 2.2× | 1 | 2026-06-15 |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill | Philadelphia PA | $8,155 | 1.9× | 1 | 2026-03-24 |
| Lehigh Valley Hospital | Pennsylvania (statewide) | $8,526 | 2.1× | 8 | 2026-07-01 |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center | Portland OR | $8,704 | 2.0× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center | Portland OR | $8,704 | 2.0× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center | Portland OR | $8,704 | 2.0× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center | Portland OR | $8,704 | 2.0× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| Keck Hospital Of Usc | Los Angeles CA | $8,997 | 1.8× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| Overlake Hospital Medical Center | Seattle-Tacoma WA | $10,426 | 2.3× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas | Dallas-Fort Worth TX | $10,818 | 2.8× | 2 | 2026-04-21 |
| Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center | California (statewide) | $11,297 | 2.2× | 5 | 2026-09-01 |
| John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus | San Francisco Bay Area CA | $11,715 | 2.1× | 3 | 2026-03-23 |
| St Clare Hospital | Seattle-Tacoma WA | $11,778 | 2.6× | 6 | 2026-02-28 |
| St Anthony Hospital | Seattle-Tacoma WA | $11,986 | 2.6× | 6 | 2026-02-28 |
| John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus | San Francisco Bay Area CA | $12,172 | 2.2× | 6 | 2026-03-23 |
| Providence St Vincent Medical Center | Portland OR | $12,994 | 3.0× | 3 | 2026-04-01 |
| Providence Portland Medical Center | Portland OR | $12,994 | 3.0× | 3 | 2026-04-01 |
| NYU Langone Hospitals (Orthopedic Hospital + Tisch files) | New York City | $13,586 | 2.8× | 7 | 2026-01-01 |
| Swedish Medical Center | Seattle-Tacoma WA | $13,619 | 3.0× | 5 | 2026-04-01 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | Los Angeles CA | $14,342 | 2.9× | 3 | 2025-11-26 |
| Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital | Seattle-Tacoma WA | $15,917 | 3.5× | 5 | 2026-08-27 |
| Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital | Seattle-Tacoma WA | $16,891 | 3.7× | 4 | 2026-08-27 |
| Stanford Health Care | San Francisco Bay Area CA | $19,507 | 3.4× | 4 | 2026-04-01 |
| Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital | Columbus OH | $23,883 | 6.3× | 20 | 2026-03-31 |
Questions
How much do commercial insurers pay hospitals for sentinel lymph node biopsy (underarm)?
Across 95 hospitals in 36 metro areas that post a usable dollar rate, the median commercial rate for CPT 38525, hospital outpatient is $5,708, 1.4× the same hospital's local Medicare base rate. The middle half of hospitals runs $4,293 to $7,988. Figures are each hospital's median across insurers, from its federal price-transparency file.
What does Medicare pay for sentinel lymph node biopsy (underarm)?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient rate for CPT 38525 is $4,000 and its surgery-center rate is $1,603, before local wage adjustment.
Which hospitals post the lowest and highest commercial rates for sentinel lymph node biopsy (underarm)?
Lowest medians: TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center ($2,895), Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin ($2,908), HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center ($2,968). Highest: Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital ($23,883), Stanford Health Care ($19,507), Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital ($16,891). Coverage is limited to the markets listed on this page.