Biopsy pathology exam cost in Denver, CO
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, 21 hospitals list a cash price for biopsy tissue exam by a pathologist (level IV): from $20.05 to $4,312.50, with a median of $1,004.92. The lowest listed price is at Denver Health and Hospital Authority — $984.87 less than the median here. Across Colorado, the median is $496.64 at 45 hospitals.
- The median here, $1,004.92, is 488% above the US median of $171.00.
- That is 18.9× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($53.24).
- 17 of 21 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 21 facilities across 9 cities for code 88305, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Oct 30, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 1, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$20.05Denver Health and Hospital Authority
Median$1,004.92half of hospitals charge less
Highest$4,312.50in this market
Difference215.1×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO.
median
Lowest $20.05Highest $4,312.50
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority lowest Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM ARUP 2013260 File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $20.05 | $57.28 | $19.65–$2,473.89 | 65% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC SURG PATH, LVL IV GROSS/MICRO File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $73.01 | $208.59 | $50.75–$2,473.89 | 65% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC SURGICAL PATHOLOGY - UHC NERVE & MUSCLE BIOPSY File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $91.72 | $262.04 | $50.75–$2,473.89 | 65% |
| National Jewish Health Denver, CO · (303) 388-4461 HC SURG PATH LEVEL-IV GROSS & MICRO File of Mar 1, 2026 · source file | $98.00 | $140.00 | $54.97–$378.12 | 30% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC 88305-LEVEL IV, GROSS & MICRO ARUP 8900100 File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $102.46 | $292.72 | $50.75–$2,473.89 | 65% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=CELL BLOCK File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $106.60 | $164.00 | $16.40–$150.88 | 35% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM ARUP 2013261 File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $159.67 | $456.19 | $50.75–$2,473.89 | 65% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=HIRSCHSPRUNGS File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $273.00 | $420.00 | $42.00–$386.40 | 35% |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM UCH NEUROMUSCULAR LAB File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $360.03 | $1,028.63 | $50.75–$2,473.89 | 65% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=TC LEVEL IV+1 more line at this price File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $372.45 | $573.00 | $57.30–$527.16 | 35% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HC=SURG PATH,LEVEL IV File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $397.80 | $612.00 | $61.20–$563.04 | 35% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=BONE MARROW CLOT PRE File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $411.45 | $633.00 | $63.30–$582.36 | 35% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=CSHB PEN SURG PATH GROSS/MICRO File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $482.76 | $742.70 | $74.27–$683.28 | 35% |
| Craig Hospital Englewood, CO HC SURG PATH GROSS&MICRO LEVEL 4 File of Jun 25, 2026 · source file | $496.64 | $1,303.50 | $44.93–$1,173.15 | 62% |
| AdventHealth Porter Denver, CO · (303) 778-1955 HC SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $612.19 | $612.19 | — | — |
| AdventHealth Parker Parker, CO · (303) 269-4000 HC SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $612.19 | $612.19 | — | — |
| AdventHealth Littleton Littleton, CO · (303) 730-8900 HC SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $612.19 | $612.19 | — | — |
| AdventHealth Castle Rock Castle Rock, CO · (720) 455-5000 HC SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $612.19 | $612.19 | — | — |
| HCA Healthone Central Park ER Denver, CO · (303) 320-2121 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $729.00 | $729.00 | $49.76–$656.10 | — |
| HCA Healthone Rose Denver, CO · (303) 320-2121 SURG PATH LEVEL 4+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $729.00 | $729.00 | $49.76–$656.10 | — |
| HCA Healthone Southwest ER Littleton, CO · (303) 788-5000 SURG PATH LEVEL 4+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,004.92 | $1,004.92 | $49.76–$904.43 | — |
| HCA Healthone Swedish Englewood, CO · (303) 788-5000 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,004.92 | $1,004.92 | $49.76–$904.43 | — |
| HCA Healthone Belmar ER Lakewood, CO · (303) 788-5000 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,004.92 | $1,004.92 | $49.76–$904.43 | — |
| Spalding at Psl Denver, CO · (303) 839-6000 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,014.16 | $1,014.16 | $49.76–$448.26 | — |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=TC MUSCLE HISTOCH File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $1,827.80 | $2,812.00 | $281.20–$2,587.04 | 35% |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=TC KIDNEY BIOPSY File of Apr 17, 2026 · source file | $1,987.70 | $3,058.00 | $305.80–$2,813.36 | 35% |
| HCA Healthone Mountain Ridge Thornton, CO · (303) 451-7800 SURG PATH LEVEL 4+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $2,004.78 | $2,004.78 | $16.72–$1,804.30 | — |
| HCA Healthone Northeast ER Thornton, CO · (303) 451-7800 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $2,004.78 | $2,004.78 | $16.72–$1,804.30 | — |
| HCA Healthone Sky Ridge Lone Tree, CO · (720) 225-1000 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $3,336.38 | $3,336.38 | $49.76–$3,002.74 | — |
| HCA Healthone South Parker ER Parker, CO Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $3,336.38 | $3,336.38 | $20.16–$3,002.74 | — |
| HCA Healthone Aurora Aurora, CO · (303) 873-5511 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $3,945.71 | $3,945.71 | $18.79–$3,551.14 | — |
| Centennial Hospital A Campus of Tmca Englewood, CO · (303) 873-5511 SURG PATH LEVEL 4+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $3,945.71 | $3,945.71 | $18.79–$3,551.14 | — |
| HCA Healthone Presbyterian St Lukes Denver, CO · (303) 839-6000 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $4,312.50 | $4,312.50 | $49.76–$2,760.00 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $20.05, median $1,004.92, highest $4,312.50 — a 215.1× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 9 facilities here, median $612.19. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 4 of 17 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What biopsy pathology exam is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Biopsy pathology exam explained.