Price Checker / CPT 19081
How much does Bx Breast 1st Lesion Strtctc cost?
CPT 19081 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 7.7x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$720–$1,450
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,650
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,800
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $8,472 is $7,372 over the fair price (about 7.7x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Bx Breast 1st Lesion Strtctc
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palomar Health Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA | $11,793 | — | 2366% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA | $11,793 | — | 2366% |
| ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital ADRIAN, MI | $9,046 | — | 1791% |
| Jefferson Medical Center Ranson, WV | $6,511 | — | 1244% |
| Owensboro Health Regional Hospital Owensboro, KY | $6,850 | — | 1189% |
| Greater Regional Medical Center CRESTON, IA | $4,838 | — | 911% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Bx Breast 1st Lesion Strtctc
CPT code 19081 refers to bx breast 1st lesion strtctc (billing description: "Bx breast 1st lesion strtctc"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $138 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $478 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.