Pathology examination of specimen during surgery
Medicare pricing data for 3,734 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
Pathology examination of specimen during surgery (HCPCS code 88329) is a medical procedure billed to Medicare. The average Medicare-allowed cost is $35.87, but hospitals typically charge $176.29 — a 4.9x 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 $35.87, your out-of-pocket cost would be approximately $7.17. 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 4.9x more than what Medicare allows for this procedure. Medicare actually pays $28.40 on average.
Cost by State
Medicare-allowed amounts vary significantly by state
| State | Allowed Cost | Hospital Charge | Providers | Services | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $46 | $475 | 9 | 126 | +28.3% |
| Louisiana | $40 | $143 | 28 | 194 | +11.2% |
| New Jersey | $39 | $190 | 75 | 257 | +8.7% |
| California | $39 | $172 | 419 | 2,355 | +7.5% |
| District of Columbia | $38 | $121 | 14 | 125 | +6.8% |
| New York | $38 | $203 | 151 | 607 | +5.4% |
| New Mexico | $37 | $295 | 23 | 151 | +3.6% |
| Washington | $37 | $141 | 101 | 465 | +2.7% |
| Massachusetts | $37 | $146 | 157 | 731 | +2.7% |
| Virginia | $37 | $196 | 75 | 484 | +1.8% |
| New Hampshire | $36 | $233 | 6 | 14 | +1.6% |
| Arizona | $36 | $222 | 100 | 515 | +1.3% |
| Maryland | $36 | $161 | 50 | 145 | +1.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $36 | $153 | 141 | 535 | +1.1% |
| Connecticut | $36 | $203 | 49 | 212 | +0.4% |
| Illinois | $36 | $184 | 173 | 786 | +0.3% |
| Iowa | $36 | $141 | 61 | 505 | -0.4% |
| Rhode Island | $35 | $131 | 26 | 102 | -1.1% |
| Florida | $35 | $198 | 292 | 2,001 | -1.2% |
| Michigan | $35 | $157 | 92 | 329 | -1.9% |
| Texas | $35 | $197 | 345 | 2,244 | -2.1% |
| Nebraska | $35 | $260 | 30 | 110 | -2.1% |
| Delaware | $35 | $155 | 7 | 14 | -2.2% |
| Tennessee | $35 | $129 | 128 | 937 | -2.3% |
| Colorado | $35 | $135 | 67 | 224 | -2.6% |
| Oregon | $35 | $126 | 26 | 96 | -3.1% |
| North Dakota | $35 | $158 | 13 | 46 | -3.3% |
| Nevada | $35 | $178 | 32 | 175 | -3.4% |
| Hawaii | $35 | $113 | 12 | 49 | -3.7% |
| Ohio | $34 | $126 | 124 | 536 | -4.0% |
| Missouri | $34 | $162 | 83 | 351 | -4.2% |
| Maine | $34 | $130 | 10 | 35 | -4.7% |
| South Carolina | $34 | $186 | 75 | 425 | -4.8% |
| Montana | $34 | $134 | 11 | 39 | -4.9% |
| Vermont | $34 | $315 | 16 | 92 | -5.0% |
| Utah | $34 | $142 | 32 | 103 | -5.0% |
| Georgia | $34 | $179 | 82 | 389 | -5.4% |
| South Dakota | $34 | $158 | 19 | 167 | -5.4% |
| Minnesota | $34 | $170 | 114 | 598 | -5.9% |
| Kentucky | $34 | $150 | 41 | 189 | -6.0% |
| West Virginia | $34 | $163 | 13 | 26 | -6.0% |
| North Carolina | $34 | $157 | 76 | 312 | -6.2% |
| Wisconsin | $34 | $295 | 89 | 206 | -6.2% |
| Indiana | $33 | $208 | 61 | 189 | -6.8% |
| Kansas | $33 | $142 | 31 | 316 | -6.9% |
| Alabama | $33 | $125 | 30 | 134 | -7.0% |
| Mississippi | $33 | $135 | 30 | 259 | -8.1% |
| Idaho | $33 | $158 | 10 | 22 | -8.3% |
| Oklahoma | $33 | $129 | 23 | 98 | -8.6% |
| Arkansas | $33 | $117 | 19 | 140 | -9.1% |
⚠️ 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
🏥 See Medicare hospital data on OpenMedicare