Cost of a Skin Biopsy Visit
in Alaska
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Alaska's remote geography and limited healthcare infrastructure create unique challenges for specialist care, with dermatology services particularly scarce in rural communities. Skin Biopsy visits in Alaska show considerable price variation based on location and facility type, though specific cost data remains limited due to the state's concentrated provider network. Alaska maintains several active Skin Biopsy providers primarily concentrated in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and patients can browse all available providers throughout the state.
Average
$85
Median
$80
Lowest
$80
Highest
$95
Providers
372
32% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does skin biopsy compare to related procedures in Alaska?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Injection Injection into a major joint or bursa | 20610 | $80 | $80 | $85 | 375 |
| Abscess Drainage (I&D) Incision and drainage of abscess, simple | 10060 | $80 | $80 | $348 | 383 |
| Blood Draw (Venipuncture) Routine venipuncture for blood sample | 36415 | $3 | $80 | $85 | 401 |
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 11102 — Tangential 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 Alaska
Alaska's healthcare costs run approximately 35% above national averages, driven by extreme geographic challenges and limited provider competition. The state's vast distances and harsh climate create unique logistical costs that providers pass on to patients and insurers.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Most dermatology specialists concentrate in Anchorage and Fairbanks, leaving rural communities dependent on traveling providers or telehealth consultations. Bush communities often require expensive medical flights to access specialist care, with some patients traveling hundreds of miles for Skin Biopsy visits. This geographic disparity creates significant cost and access barriers for rural Alaskans.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient clinics dominate Alaska's specialist market due to high overhead costs that independent practices struggle to sustain. Providence Alaska Medical Center and Alaska Regional Hospital operate most specialist clinics in Anchorage. Rural facilities face extreme overhead costs from heating, equipment transport, and staff retention incentives.
Insurance Market Competition in Alaska
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield dominates Alaska's individual and group insurance markets with limited competition from other carriers. This market concentration reduces competitive pressure on negotiated rates, contributing to higher healthcare costs statewide. The small population base limits insurers' ability to spread risk and negotiate aggressive discounts.
Physician Supply and Demand in Alaska
Alaska faces chronic specialist shortages with many dermatologists serving the entire state on rotating schedules. Limited residency programs and harsh living conditions make physician recruitment challenging, creating supply constraints that drive up pricing. Wait times for specialist appointments often exceed national averages due to provider scarcity.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions — Skin Biopsy Costs in Alaska
What is the average cost of a Skin Biopsy visit in Alaska without insurance?
Does Alaska Medicaid cover Skin Biopsy visits?
How do I find an affordable Skin Biopsy near me in Alaska?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Skin Biopsy visit in Alaska?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Skin Biopsy in Alaska?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 11102)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Range: $62 – $387 | $200 |
| 2 | Rhode Island Range: $35 – $387 | $187 |
| 3 | New Hampshire Range: $103 – $251 | $182 |
| 4 | Connecticut Range: $47 – $387 | $181 |
| 5 | Wisconsin Range: $60 – $387 | $181 |
| 6 | New York Range: $49 – $387 | $179 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania Range: $34 – $387 | $173 |
| 8 | West Virginia Range: $34 – $387 | $171 |
| 9 | Delaware Range: $33 – $387 | $169 |
| 10 | Nebraska Range: $47 – $242 | $167 |
| 11 | Maine Range: $100 – $206 | $164 |
| 12 | Wyoming Range: $53 – $307 | $150 |
| 13 | Vermont Range: $73 – $249 | $149 |
| 14 | North Dakota Range: $42 – $300 | $146 |
| 15 | Minnesota Range: $33 – $310 | $144 |
| 16 | Iowa Range: $54 – $251 | $143 |
| 17 | Utah Range: $54 – $220 | $130 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $34 – $250 | $127 |
| 19 | Oregon Range: $54 – $242 | $126 |
| 20 | South Dakota Range: $38 – $242 | $123 |
| 21 | New Mexico Range: $46 – $221 | $119 |
| 22 | Illinois Range: $37 – $230 | $118 |
| 23 | Washington Range: $52 – $220 | $118 |
| 24 | Georgia Range: $39 – $219 | $117 |
| 25 | Florida Range: $33 – $229 | $115 |
| 26 | Colorado Range: $43 – $221 | $115 |
| 27 | North Carolina Range: $39 – $209 | $114 |
| 28 | California Range: $80 – $171 | $112 |
| 29 | Indiana Range: $35 – $211 | $110 |
| 30 | Michigan Range: $38 – $201 | $110 |
| 31 | New Jersey Range: $21 – $230 | $108 |
| 32 | Hawaii Range: $37 – $200 | $107 |
| 33 | Texas Range: $34 – $194 | $105 |
| 34 | Maryland Range: $34 – $203 | $104 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $34 – $186 | $102 |
| 36 | Nevada Range: $72 – $145 | $101 |
| 37 | Virginia Range: $30 – $193 | $101 |
| 38 | Idaho Range: $47 – $175 | $101 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $32 – $187 | $99 |
| 40 | Missouri Range: $36 – $136 | $94 |
| 41 | Ohio Range: $30 – $164 | $94 |
| 42 | Louisiana Range: $31 – $170 | $94 |
| 43 | Tennessee Range: $36 – $160 | $94 |
| 44 | Kentucky Range: $50 – $144 | $91 |
| 45 | Arkansas Range: $39 – $146 | $90 |
| 46 | Kansas Range: $36 – $140 | $90 |
| 47 | Montana Range: $80 – $108 | $89 |
| 48 | Alabama Range: $31 – $152 | $88 |
| 49 | Mississippi Range: $32 – $152 | $88 |
| 50 | Alaska Range: $80 – $95 | $85 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $32 – $132 | $78 |