Bx breast 1st lesion strtctc
Breast biopsy using stereotactic guidance shows a potential difference of $1,481 between facility settings, making bill verification essential before your procedure.
About the analyst
Priya Iyengar leads the billing code review team at BillRazor Research. She analyzes NCCI bundling edits, DRG coding, and regional rate variation. Expertise: NCCI bundling, DRG analysis, regional pricing.
Code 19081 covers a stereotactic breast biopsy, where imaging guides a needle to sample tissue from the first suspicious lesion for laboratory analysis. This procedure is typically performed on patients with abnormal mammogram or breast imaging findings that require tissue confirmation. Medicare reimburses this procedure at approximately $400, though facility charges can vary significantly based on the outpatient setting where the biopsy is performed.
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Facility rate
$139
National Medicare benchmark
Non-facility rate
$99
Office setting benchmark
Data sources
4
24 data points
Key insights for CPT 19081
ASC vs hospital outpatient savings
$912Having this done at an ambulatory surgery center costs $708 vs $1,620 at a hospital outpatient
Facility vs office setting
$40 differenceNon-facility setting is less expensive for this procedure
What this procedure costs across different settings
The same procedure can cost very different amounts depending on where it's performed. These are the Medicare-allowed amounts — what hospitals actually charge can be 3-10x higher.
| Setting | Medicare rate | vs lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Facility (physician office) | $139 | +40% |
| Non-facility (office) | $99 | Lowest |
| Outpatient (APC) | $1,620 | +1537% |
| Ambulatory surgery (ASC) | $708 | +615% |
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About this data
Rates shown are from the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), Ambulatory Surgery Center Payment System, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, Durable Medical Equipment Fee Schedule, and CMS Inpatient Prospective Payment System (DRG weights). Regional adjustments use CMS Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI). Hospital charges are from CMS Hospital Price Transparency machine-readable files. All data is publicly available under federal law (45 CFR Part 180).
This data is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or financial advice. Actual costs depend on insurance coverage, negotiated rates, and individual circumstances.
Data: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, CMS Inpatient PPS (IPPS), Outpatient PPS (OPPS), ASC Payment System, Clinical Lab Fee Schedule (CLFS), National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). FY 2024 data. All publicly available from CMS.
Methodology: Facility rate applies when the procedure is performed in a hospital or ASC. Non-facility rate applies in a physician office. GPCI adjustments reflect regional cost-of-living differences.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical, financial, or legal advice. Actual costs depend on your insurance and provider. We recommend verifying costs directly with your provider. Full methodology · Terms of use