Removal of sutures or staples
Medicare pricing data for 12,497 providers across 50 states
Note: These costs reflect the Medicare physician/supplier component. Hospital facility fees are billed separately and can be 2-5x the physician fee.
💡 What You Should Know
Removal of sutures or staples (HCPCS code 15853) is a medical procedure billed to Medicare. The average Medicare-allowed cost is $10.33, but hospitals typically charge $39.15 — a 3.8x markup. Prices vary significantly by state and provider.
🏷️ Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost
Medicare patients typically pay about 20% of the allowed amount as coinsurance. Based on the average allowed cost of $10.33, your out-of-pocket cost would be approximately $2.07. Actual costs depend on your specific plan, deductible, and whether you've met your annual out-of-pocket maximum.
What Hospitals Charge vs. What Medicare Pays
Hospitals charge 3.8x more than what Medicare allows for this procedure. Medicare actually pays $8.09 on average.
Cost by State
Medicare-allowed amounts vary significantly by state
| State | Allowed Cost | Hospital Charge | Providers | Services | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $12 | $51 | 1,301 | 2,497 | +17.7% |
| New York | $12 | $62 | 507 | 829 | +16.0% |
| New Jersey | $12 | $53 | 360 | 673 | +14.8% |
| Hawaii | $11 | $35 | 59 | 102 | +10.5% |
| Alaska | $11 | $71 | 36 | 74 | +10.4% |
| District of Columbia | $11 | $36 | 15 | 40 | +9.1% |
| Connecticut | $11 | $33 | 125 | 196 | +9.0% |
| Massachusetts | $11 | $35 | 301 | 498 | +8.8% |
| Maryland | $11 | $38 | 362 | 755 | +6.2% |
| Washington | $11 | $35 | 200 | 289 | +6.0% |
| Minnesota | $11 | $53 | 350 | 512 | +2.4% |
| New Hampshire | $11 | $47 | 24 | 30 | +2.3% |
| Delaware | $11 | $24 | 46 | 202 | +2.2% |
| Montana | $11 | $27 | 34 | 56 | +2.2% |
| Colorado | $11 | $30 | 366 | 601 | +1.7% |
| Virginia | $10 | $40 | 394 | 678 | +1.5% |
| Wyoming | $10 | $59 | 34 | 138 | +1.3% |
| Oregon | $10 | $36 | 131 | 187 | +0.8% |
| Pennsylvania | $10 | $31 | 593 | 1,020 | +0.7% |
| Rhode Island | $10 | $42 | 28 | 69 | +0.1% |
| Nevada | $10 | $36 | 129 | 194 | -1.3% |
| Michigan | $10 | $33 | 305 | 452 | -1.9% |
| Texas | $10 | $40 | 675 | 1,015 | -2.1% |
| Florida | $10 | $33 | 799 | 1,564 | -2.6% |
| Maine | $10 | $21 | 22 | 28 | -3.1% |
| North Dakota | $10 | $45 | 55 | 76 | -4.5% |
| Wisconsin | $10 | $104 | 197 | 264 | -4.5% |
| South Dakota | $10 | $30 | 26 | 39 | -5.1% |
| Utah | $10 | $26 | 165 | 242 | -5.4% |
| Arizona | $10 | $31 | 380 | 811 | -6.4% |
| Illinois | $10 | $32 | 458 | 992 | -7.0% |
| Georgia | $10 | $36 | 342 | 502 | -7.7% |
| Missouri | $10 | $27 | 242 | 347 | -7.8% |
| Nebraska | $10 | $33 | 104 | 159 | -8.0% |
| North Carolina | $9 | $38 | 424 | 659 | -8.2% |
| Ohio | $9 | $39 | 430 | 677 | -8.4% |
| Iowa | $9 | $26 | 237 | 431 | -8.6% |
| Kansas | $9 | $29 | 93 | 140 | -9.5% |
| Indiana | $9 | $34 | 300 | 443 | -9.6% |
| Louisiana | $9 | $67 | 211 | 386 | -10.5% |
| Oklahoma | $9 | $26 | 185 | 316 | -10.5% |
| Alabama | $9 | $27 | 149 | 207 | -10.6% |
| Idaho | $9 | $32 | 62 | 90 | -11.2% |
| Kentucky | $9 | $24 | 191 | 279 | -11.5% |
| South Carolina | $9 | $26 | 284 | 536 | -11.6% |
| New Mexico | $9 | $24 | 77 | 110 | -13.6% |
| Tennessee | $9 | $30 | 373 | 523 | -13.7% |
| Arkansas | $9 | $22 | 166 | 271 | -14.1% |
| West Virginia | $9 | $40 | 41 | 56 | -14.8% |
| Mississippi | $9 | $29 | 93 | 153 | -17.1% |
⚠️ Important: These costs reflect the Medicare physician/supplier component. Hospital facility fees may be billed separately. Total out-of-pocket costs may be higher.
💊 Need post-procedure medications? Check costs on OpenPrescriber