Price Checker / CPT 38525
How much does Biopsy/removal Lymph Nodes cost?
CPT 38525 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 54x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$650–$1,300
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,200
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,650
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $52,984 is $52,004 over the fair price (about 54x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Biopsy/removal Lymph Nodes
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franciscan Health Munster MUNSTER, IN | $160,008 | $42,722 | 37065% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Psychiatry , OH | $129,298 | $39,984 | 29932% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Rehab , OH | $129,298 | $39,984 | 29932% |
| The Christ Hospital Liberty , OH | $129,298 | $39,984 | 29932% |
| The Christ Hospital , OH | $129,298 | $39,984 | 29932% |
| Franciscan Health Lafayette LAFAYETTE, IN | $84,733 | $21,776 | 19581% |
| Franciscan Health Olympia Fields , IL | $50,323 | $10,065 | 11588% |
| Centrastate Medical Center FREEHOLD, NJ | $40,859 | $8,577 | 9390% |
| Parrish Medical Center Titusville, FL | $28,793 | — | 6253% |
| Highpoint Health - Riverview with Ascension Saint Thomas , TN | $27,281 | — | 6236% |
| Ashley Regional Medical Center VERNAL, UT | $22,880 | — | 5214% |
| Troy Regional Medical Center TROY, AL | $22,500 | — | 5126% |
| Southern Tennessee Regional Health System - Pulaski PULASKI, TN | $18,260 | — | 4141% |
| Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center Hartsville, SC | $13,170 | — | 2959% |
| Warren General Hospital WARREN, PA | $6,536 | — | 2424% |
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 Biopsy/removal Lymph Nodes
CPT code 38525 refers to biopsy/removal lymph nodes (billing description: "Biopsy/removal lymph nodes"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $431 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $431 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.