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Alaska

Cost of a Abscess Drainage Visit
in Alaska

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Alaska's challenging geography and limited healthcare infrastructure create unique cost dynamics for medical procedures, with patients facing some of the nation's highest healthcare expenses. For Abscess Drainage procedures, Alaskan patients typically encounter costs ranging from $80 to $348, with a median rate of $80 based on insurer-negotiated rates from 383 active providers statewide. Despite Alaska's vast territory and sparse population density, residents have access to qualified specialists across multiple communities, allowing patients to compare options and find appropriate care within their budget.

Average

$169

Median

$80

Lowest

$80

Highest

$348

Providers

383

National avg: $180Alaska: $169

6% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does abscess drainage (i&d) compare to related procedures in Alaska?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
Skin Biopsy

Tangential biopsy of skin

11102$80$80$95372
Joint Injection

Injection into a major joint or bursa

20610$80$80$85375
Blood Draw (Venipuncture)

Routine venipuncture for blood sample

36415$3$80$85401

Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.

The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 10060Incision and drainage of abscess, simple). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.

Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.

This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.

Where this data comes from & what CPT 10060 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 10060 (Incision and drainage of abscess, simple), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 10060 covers: the provider's professional fee for abscess drainage (i&d). It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.

How to read this data

Negotiated Rate

The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.

P5, Median, P95

P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.

What this does not tell you

These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.

Why Abscess Drainage Visit Costs Vary Across Alaska

Healthcare costs in Alaska run approximately 35% above national averages due to the state's remote location, harsh weather conditions, and limited transportation infrastructure. The combination of high living costs, expensive medical supply shipping, and recruitment challenges for healthcare professionals creates a uniquely expensive market for all medical services.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Anchorage and Fairbanks concentrate most specialist services, forcing rural residents to travel hundreds of miles for care or rely on regional hospitals with limited capabilities. Bush communities often require air transport to reach qualified providers, adding thousands in travel costs to routine procedures. Telemedicine helps with consultations but cannot replace hands-on procedures like abscess drainage.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based outpatient clinics typically charge facility fees in addition to physician charges, increasing total costs significantly compared to independent practices. Alaska's major health systems like Providence and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital dominate markets outside Anchorage, limiting competitive pricing pressure. High utility costs, expensive construction materials, and challenging supply chains drive up operational expenses across all facility types.

Insurance Market Competition in Alaska

Premera Blue Cross controls the majority of Alaska's commercial insurance market, with limited competition from other carriers reducing negotiation leverage for lower rates. The individual marketplace offers few plan options due to Alaska's small population and high costs, concentrating market power. This lack of competition allows insurers and providers to maintain higher prices than more competitive markets.

Physician Supply and Demand in Alaska

Alaska faces chronic physician shortages across all specialties, with recruitment complicated by isolation, weather, and family considerations for medical professionals. The state's 383 providers capable of abscess drainage represents reasonable coverage for the population, though geographic distribution remains uneven. Physician shortages drive up compensation costs, which translate directly to higher patient charges and insurance premiums.

JP

Jayant Panwar

CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA

Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.

The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Abscess Drainage Costs in Alaska

What is the average cost of an Abscess Drainage visit in Alaska without insurance?

Uninsured patients in Alaska typically pay between $80 and $348 for abscess drainage procedures, with a median cost of $80 based on negotiated insurance rates. Cash-pay patients may receive discounts of 20-40% below standard charges, especially at independent clinics and urgent care centers. The final cost depends on complexity, facility type, and whether additional services like antibiotic prescriptions or follow-up care are included.

Does Alaska Medicaid cover Abscess Drainage visits?

Yes, Alaska Medicaid covers medically necessary abscess drainage procedures as the state expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Coverage includes both the procedure and related services like antibiotics and wound care supplies. However, finding Medicaid-accepting providers can be challenging in rural areas, and some specialists may have limited appointment availability for Medicaid patients.

How do I find an affordable Abscess Drainage near me in Alaska?

Compare costs between urgent care centers, independent clinics, and hospital emergency departments, as pricing varies significantly by facility type. Ask about self-pay discounts and payment plans, particularly important given Alaska's seasonal employment patterns. Community health centers in Anchorage and other larger towns often provide sliding-scale fees based on income for uninsured residents.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Initial drainage procedures typically cost $80-$348 based on complexity and facility type in Alaska. Follow-up visits for wound checks and dressing changes usually cost significantly less, often $50-$150 depending on the extent of care needed. Some providers include one follow-up visit in the initial procedure cost, so ask about package pricing when scheduling.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for an Abscess Drainage visit in Alaska?

Yes, abscess drainage qualifies as a medical expense eligible for Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) reimbursement. This includes the procedure cost, prescribed antibiotics, and wound care supplies. Keep all receipts and documentation, as these accounts require proper medical expense verification for tax purposes.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a provider for abscess drainage in Alaska?

While telemedicine consultations cost less than in-person visits ($50-$100 typically), abscess drainage requires hands-on treatment that cannot be performed remotely. Telemedicine may help with initial assessment and post-procedure follow-up care, reducing travel costs for rural Alaskans. Some providers offer hybrid care combining virtual consultations with in-person procedures to minimize overall costs and travel time.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$92
$317

Office visit (CPT 10060)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1Wisconsin
Range: $73$779
$317
2North Dakota
Range: $80$611
$277
3Iowa
Range: $85$502
$267
4Minnesota
Range: $80$540
$256
5Massachusetts
Range: $80$464
$237
6Rhode Island
Range: $80$464
$237
7Illinois
Range: $80$459
$230
8Connecticut
Range: $80$464
$230
9Nebraska
Range: $119$308
$228
10New York
Range: $81$464
$227
11Delaware
Range: $76$464
$219
12Pennsylvania
Range: $73$464
$219
13Michigan
Range: $80$464
$216
14West Virginia
Range: $80$456
$216
15New Hampshire
Range: $112$303
$214
16Indiana
Range: $80$456
$210
17Georgia
Range: $83$397
$209
18Wyoming
Range: $80$372
$206
19Maine
Range: $126$254
$200
20Oregon
Range: $80$387
$195
21District of Columbia
Range: $76$346
$194
22Washington
Range: $80$324
$182
23South Dakota
Range: $83$309
$178
24Vermont
Range: $95$290
$178
25New Mexico
Range: $85$274
$172
26Alaska
Range: $80$348
$169
27Colorado
Range: $62$309
$168
28North Carolina
Range: $77$297
$168
29Utah
Range: $40$278
$168
30Kentucky
Range: $80$308
$167
31Hawaii
Range: $80$308
$166
32Montana
Range: $80$308
$156
33Idaho
Range: $80$289
$155
34New Jersey
Range: $44$306
$151
35Arkansas
Range: $85$224
$149
36Maryland
Range: $71$254
$145
37Texas
Range: $80$233
$142
38Virginia
Range: $67$244
$140
39South Carolina
Range: $80$232
$140
40Oklahoma
Range: $79$227
$137
41Tennessee
Range: $83$204
$135
42Louisiana
Range: $76$211
$132
43Missouri
Range: $81$178
$131
44Kansas
Range: $88$177
$129
45Alabama
Range: $76$203
$127
46Ohio
Range: $63$206
$124
47Arizona
Range: $80$192
$124
48Mississippi
Range: $79$187
$124
49California
Range: $15$264
$122
50Nevada
Range: $30$189
$102
51Florida
Range: $35$187
$92
Abscess Drainage (I&D) in Other States