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Alabama

Cost of a Skin Biopsy Visit
in Alabama

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Alabama's healthcare costs run approximately 8% below national averages, making Skin Biopsy visits more affordable than many states. Patients typically pay between $31 and $152 for a skin biopsy procedure, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $81. Over 2,400 active providers across Alabama perform skin biopsies, giving patients substantial choice when selecting an in-network specialist.

Average

$88

Median

$81

Lowest

$31

Highest

$152

Providers

2,408

National avg: $124Alabama: $88

29% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does skin biopsy compare to related procedures in Alabama?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
Joint Injection

Injection into a major joint or bursa

20610$38$68$1172,687
Abscess Drainage (I&D)

Incision and drainage of abscess, simple

10060$76$102$2032,685
Blood Draw (Venipuncture)

Routine venipuncture for blood sample

36415$1$3$802,773

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 11102Tangential biopsy of skin, single lesion). 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 11102 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 11102 (Tangential biopsy of skin, single lesion), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 11102 covers: the provider's professional fee for skin biopsy. 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 Skin Biopsy Visit Costs Vary Across Alabama

Alabama's healthcare costs run approximately 8% below national averages due to lower labor costs and facility expenses, though rural areas face provider shortages that can drive up prices. The state's geographic spread from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast creates distinct healthcare markets with varying cost structures.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile concentrations of dermatology practices create competitive pricing, while rural counties in central and southern Alabama may have limited options requiring patients to travel for care. This geographic disparity means rural patients often pay travel costs but may find lower procedure fees at smaller practices. Telemedicine consultations have improved access for initial evaluations, though biopsy procedures still require in-person visits.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) and other academic medical centers typically charge higher facility fees but offer specialized expertise for complex cases. Independent dermatology practices across Alabama generally have lower overhead costs, translating to more affordable skin biopsy procedures. Hospital-owned outpatient clinics may add facility fees ranging from $100-300 on top of physician charges, significantly impacting total patient costs.

Insurance Market Competition in Alabama

BCBS Alabama's market dominance limits insurer competition, resulting in fewer negotiated rate variations compared to states with more competitive markets. The state's decision not to expand Medicaid reduces insurer participation in marketplace plans, further concentrating market power. Limited competition can lead to higher negotiated rates, though Alabama's lower cost of living partially offsets this factor for patients.

Physician Supply and Demand in Alabama

With over 2,400 providers performing skin biopsies across Alabama, the state maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution creates cost differences where urban competition drives down prices while rural scarcity may increase them. Wait times for non-urgent skin biopsies typically range from 2-6 weeks in major cities but can extend to 2-3 months in underserved rural areas.

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 — Skin Biopsy Costs in Alabama

What is the average cost of a Skin Biopsy visit in Alabama without insurance?

Uninsured patients in Alabama typically pay between $31 and $152 for a skin biopsy procedure, with a median cost of $81. These rates reflect actual negotiated prices from insurance transparency files, though self-pay patients may receive additional discounts. Many providers offer payment plans or cash discounts that can reduce costs by 20-40% for patients without insurance coverage.

Does Alabama Medicaid cover Skin Biopsy visits?

Alabama Medicaid covers medically necessary skin biopsies with prior authorization from your primary care physician. Since Alabama did not expand Medicaid, coverage is limited to specific populations including children, pregnant women, disabled individuals, and very low-income adults. Patients should verify their eligibility and confirm that both the dermatologist and pathology lab accept Alabama Medicaid before scheduling procedures.

How do I find an affordable Skin Biopsy near me in Alabama?

Compare costs across independent practices versus hospital-owned clinics, as facility fees can significantly increase your total bill. Ask about self-pay discounts if you're uninsured or have a high-deductible plan, and consider community health centers in Birmingham, Mobile, or Huntsville for sliding-scale fees. Rural Alabama patients may find lower base rates but should factor in travel costs when comparing urban versus local options.

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

Initial skin biopsy consultations typically cost more than follow-up visits since they involve comprehensive evaluations and the actual biopsy procedure. The primary cost component is the biopsy itself at $31-152 median, with consultation fees varying by provider type and complexity. Follow-up visits for results discussion or additional treatment planning generally range from $50-150 depending on the extent of care needed.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Skin Biopsy visit in Alabama?

Yes, skin biopsies qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) when medically necessary. Keep detailed receipts including the procedure code and diagnosis for tax documentation. Using pre-tax HSA or FSA funds effectively reduces your cost by your marginal tax rate, providing additional savings on top of any cash-pay discounts offered by Alabama providers.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Skin Biopsy in Alabama?

While initial consultations can sometimes be conducted via telemedicine for $75-150, actual skin biopsies require in-person procedures that cannot be performed remotely. Alabama expanded telemedicine coverage during COVID-19, making virtual consultations more accessible for determining if a biopsy is needed. Some dermatologists offer hybrid approaches where initial assessments occur online, potentially saving patients time and travel costs before scheduling necessary in-person biopsy procedures.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$78
$200

Office visit (CPT 11102)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1Massachusetts
Range: $62$387
$200
2Rhode Island
Range: $35$387
$187
3New Hampshire
Range: $103$251
$182
4Connecticut
Range: $47$387
$181
5Wisconsin
Range: $60$387
$181
6New York
Range: $49$387
$179
7Pennsylvania
Range: $34$387
$173
8West Virginia
Range: $34$387
$171
9Delaware
Range: $33$387
$169
10Nebraska
Range: $47$242
$167
11Maine
Range: $100$206
$164
12Wyoming
Range: $53$307
$150
13Vermont
Range: $73$249
$149
14North Dakota
Range: $42$300
$146
15Minnesota
Range: $33$310
$144
16Iowa
Range: $54$251
$143
17Utah
Range: $54$220
$130
18District of Columbia
Range: $34$250
$127
19Oregon
Range: $54$242
$126
20South Dakota
Range: $38$242
$123
21New Mexico
Range: $46$221
$119
22Illinois
Range: $37$230
$118
23Washington
Range: $52$220
$118
24Georgia
Range: $39$219
$117
25Florida
Range: $33$229
$115
26Colorado
Range: $43$221
$115
27North Carolina
Range: $39$209
$114
28California
Range: $80$171
$112
29Indiana
Range: $35$211
$110
30Michigan
Range: $38$201
$110
31New Jersey
Range: $21$230
$108
32Hawaii
Range: $37$200
$107
33Texas
Range: $34$194
$105
34Maryland
Range: $34$203
$104
35South Carolina
Range: $34$186
$102
36Nevada
Range: $72$145
$101
37Virginia
Range: $30$193
$101
38Idaho
Range: $47$175
$101
39Oklahoma
Range: $32$187
$99
40Missouri
Range: $36$136
$94
41Ohio
Range: $30$164
$94
42Louisiana
Range: $31$170
$94
43Tennessee
Range: $36$160
$94
44Kentucky
Range: $50$144
$91
45Arkansas
Range: $39$146
$90
46Kansas
Range: $36$140
$90
47Montana
Range: $80$108
$89
48Alabama
Range: $31$152
$88
49Mississippi
Range: $32$152
$88
50Alaska
Range: $80$95
$85
51Arizona
Range: $32$132
$78
Skin Biopsy in Other States