Price Checker / CPT 38745
How much does Remove Armpit Lymph Nodes cost?
CPT 38745 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 12x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$1,250–$2,500
What this should cost
With insurance
~$4,100
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$3,150
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $23,464 is $21,564 over the fair price (about 12x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Remove Armpit 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley View Medical Center FORT MOHAVE, AZ | $63,749 | — | 7489% |
| Haywood Regional Medical Center CLYDE, NC | $40,221 | — | 4688% |
| DEFIANCE HOSPITAL Defiance, OH | $23,067 | — | 2242% |
| Doylestown Health , PA | $21,705 | — | 1838% |
| LifeBrite Community Hospital of Stokes DANBURY, NC | $12,497 | — | 1231% |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BRENHAM Brenham, TX | — | — | 1114% |
| Pecos County Memorial Hospital Fort Stockton, TX | $11,013 | — | 1080% |
| Conemaugh Meyersdale Medical Center MEYERSDALE, PA | $5,256 | — | 526% |
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 Remove Armpit Lymph Nodes
CPT code 38745 refers to remove armpit lymph nodes (billing description: "Remove armpit lymph nodes"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $840 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $840 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.