Cost of a Skin Biopsy Visit
in Massachusetts
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Massachusetts leads the nation with a 97% health insurance coverage rate, yet residents still face significant out-of-pocket costs for specialty procedures like skin biopsies. Patients typically pay between $62 and $387 for a skin biopsy, with a median negotiated rate of $151. With over 1,000 active dermatology and pathology providers across the state, Massachusetts offers extensive options for patients needing skin tissue analysis.
Average
$200
Median
$151
Lowest
$62
Highest
$387
Providers
1,093
61% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does skin biopsy compare to related procedures in Massachusetts?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Injection Injection into a major joint or bursa | 20610 | $55 | $88 | $538 | 1,393 |
| Abscess Drainage (I&D) Incision and drainage of abscess, simple | 10060 | $80 | $167 | $464 | 1,389 |
| Blood Draw (Venipuncture) Routine venipuncture for blood sample | 36415 | $2 | $3 | $80 | 2,054 |
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts healthcare costs run approximately 20% above the national average, driven by the state's concentration of world-renowned academic medical centers and highly educated physician workforce. The Commonwealth's small geographic footprint means most residents live within 30 miles of Boston, creating intense competition for specialist appointments while maintaining premium pricing.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Greater Boston and Worcester areas host dozens of dermatology practices, while Western Massachusetts counties like Berkshire and Franklin rely heavily on visiting specialists and telemedicine consultations. Rural patients often travel 60+ miles to Springfield or Boston for skin biopsies, adding transportation costs to medical expenses. The provider density difference creates a two-tiered pricing system across the state.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health, and other major health systems operate most hospital-based dermatology clinics, charging facility fees that can double the total visit cost. Independent dermatology practices remain common in suburban areas like Newton, Wellesley, and Lexington, typically offering more competitive pricing. Academic medical centers affiliated with Harvard Medical School or UMass Medical School often charge premium rates for specialized procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts dominates with roughly 50% market share, followed by Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care creating a moderately competitive landscape. The state's tight insurance regulation keeps premium increases controlled but also maintains higher baseline costs compared to less regulated markets. Insurers negotiate aggressively with the powerful hospital systems, creating wide variation in negotiated rates.
Physician Supply and Demand in Massachusetts
With over 1,000 providers performing skin biopsies statewide, Massachusetts enjoys better specialist access than most states relative to population. However, the concentration of top-tier medical facilities attracts complex cases from across New England, creating longer wait times at premier institutions. The robust physician supply helps moderate costs at independent practices while academic centers maintain premium pricing.
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 Massachusetts
What is the average cost of a Skin Biopsy visit in Massachusetts without insurance?
Does Massachusetts Medicaid cover Skin Biopsy visits?
How do I find an affordable Skin Biopsy near me in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Skin Biopsy in Massachusetts?
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 |