Biopsy pathology exam cost in Philadelphia, PA
In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 26 hospitals list a cash price for biopsy tissue exam by a pathologist (level IV): from $51.00 to $960.28, with a median of $147.55. The lowest listed price is at Lower Bucks Hospital — $96.55 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $177.30 at 102 hospitals.
- The median here, $147.55, is 14% below the US median of $171.00.
- That is 2.8× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($53.24).
- Philadelphia, PA has the lowest median of 2 metro areas in Pennsylvania with at least 10 hospitals pricing this code.
- 8 of 26 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 26 facilities across 21 cities for code 88305, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Oct 26, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Dec 31, 2025 and Sep 21, 2026.
Lowest$51.00Lower Bucks Hospital
Median$147.55half of hospitals charge less
Highest$960.28in this market
Difference18.8×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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
median
Lowest $51.00Highest $1,079.78
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Bucks Hospital lowest Bristol, PA · (215) 785-9200 Hc Surg Path,Level Iv File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $51.00 | $347.01 | $9.00–$277.61 | 85% |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 483-9900 Hc Surg Path,Level Iv File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $53.00 | $1,321.25 | $9.00–$1,281.61 | 96% |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Cell Block File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $75.20 | $188.00 | — | 60% |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Cell Block File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $75.20 | $188.00 | — | 60% |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Cell Block File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $75.20 | $188.00 | — | 60% |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Cell Block File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $75.20 | $188.00 | — | 60% |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Routine He (Additional)+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $102.00 | $102.00 | — | — |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Renal Biopsy Component 4 Ref Lab+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $107.00 | $107.00 | — | — |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Path Level 4 Prostate+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $112.00 | $280.00 | — | 60% |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Surg Path Lvl Iv+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $112.00 | $280.00 | — | 60% |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Path Level 4 Prostate+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $112.00 | $280.00 | — | 60% |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Path Level 4 Prostate+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $112.00 | $280.00 | — | 60% |
| St Mary Medical Center Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Surgical Pathology Level 4 Gross & Microscopic Examination File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $136.50 | $210.00 | $10.35–$526.15 | 35% |
| Virtua West Jersey Hospital - Voorhees Voorhees, NJ · (856) 247-3000 HC Surgical Pathology Gross / Micro Lev IV+1 more line at this price File of Jun 1, 2026 · source file | $140.20 | $1,402.00 | $21.12–$488.66 | 90% |
| Virtua Willingboro Hospital Willinboro, NJ · (609) 835-2900 HC Surgical Pathology Gross / Micro Lev IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $140.20 | $1,402.00 | $21.12–$488.66 | 90% |
| Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Camden, NJ · (856) 886-5373 HC Surgical Pathology Gross / Micro Lev IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $140.20 | $1,402.00 | $21.12–$488.66 | 90% |
| Virtua Memorial Hospital Mount Holly, NJ · (609) 267-0700 HC Surgical Pathology Gross / Micro Lev IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $140.20 | $1,402.00 | $21.12–$488.66 | 90% |
| Virtua West Jersey Hospital - Marlton Voorhees, NJ · (856) 247-3000 HC Surgical Pathology Gross / Micro Lev IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $140.20 | $1,402.00 | $21.12–$488.66 | 90% |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ TISSUE PROCEDURE LEVEL 4+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $154.90 | $154.90 | $29.63–$159.94 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ CELL BLOCK TISSUE PREP+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $154.90 | $154.90 | $26.10–$159.94 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ · (856) 363-1000 CELL BLOCK TISSUE PREP+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $154.90 | $154.90 | $31.32–$159.94 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 CELL BLOCK TISSUE PREP+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $154.90 | $154.90 | $31.32–$159.94 | — |
| St Mary Medical Center Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Surgical Pathology Level 4 Skin & Derm Microscopic Examination File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $178.10 | $274.00 | $10.35–$526.15 | 35% |
| Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center Meadowbrook, PA · (215) 947-3000 Level IV Surg Path File of Sep 21, 2026 · source file | $187.91 | $313.17 | $50.98–$241.14 | 40% |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton, MD · (410) 392-7009 BM CLOT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $193.60 | $193.60 | — | — |
| Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center Meadowbrook, PA · (215) 947-3000 Surgical Pathology Lev IV File of Sep 21, 2026 · source file | $197.34 | $328.89 | $50.98–$253.25 | 40% |
| St Mary Medical Center Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC External Surgical Pathology Level 4 Gross & Microscopic Examination File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $214.50 | $330.00 | $10.35–$526.15 | 35% |
| Shriners Childrens - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 430-4000 TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST File of Mar 19, 2026 · source file | $222.40 | $222.40 | $9.00–$76.02 | — |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Bone Marrow Morphology Interpretation Component 3 Hematologics+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $233.00 | $233.00 | — | — |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton, MD · (410) 392-7009 LEVEL IV SURGICAL PATHOLOGY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $282.35 | $282.35 | — | — |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton, MD · (410) 392-7009 LEVEL IV SURG PATH BIOPSY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $309.61 | $309.61 | — | — |
| St Luke's Hospital - Upper Bucks Campus Quakertown, PA · (267) 985-1000 HB TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST (LEVEL IV) File of Feb 26, 2026 · source file | $334.80 | $372.00 | $34.00–$308.09 | 10% |
| St Luke's Hospital - Grand View Campus Sellersville, PA · (215) 453-4000 HB TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST (LEVEL IV) File of Feb 26, 2026 · source file | $334.80 | $372.00 | $40.80–$3,910.00 | 10% |
| St. Francis Hospital Wilmington, DE · (302) 421-4100 HC Surgical Pathology Level 4 Gross & Microscopic Examination+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $344.50 | $530.00 | $54.36–$643.88 | 35% |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Muscle Level IV (Para)+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $384.00 | $384.00 | — | — |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton, MD · (410) 392-7009 BM BX File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $387.17 | $387.17 | — | — |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 HC Surgical Pathology Level 4 Skin & Derm Microscopic Examination+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $401.05 | $617.00 | $12.15–$617.00 | 35% |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton, MD · (410) 392-7009 LEVEL IV SX PATH, NEEDLE PROSTATE BX File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $415.14 | $415.14 | — | — |
| Nazareth Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 335-6000 HC Surgical Pathology Level 4 Skin & Derm Microscopic Examination+3 more lines at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $515.45 | $793.00 | $13.05–$777.50 | 35% |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Tissue Exam by Pathologist Component Arkana+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $660.00 | $660.00 | — | — |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Bone Marrow Processing Chop Comp 3 Referred+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $710.00 | $710.00 | — | — |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Level IV (Gross & Microscopic)+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $841.00 | $841.00 | — | — |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Surgical Path Level 4 Tju File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $888.00 | $2,220.00 | — | 60% |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Surgical Path Level 4 Tju File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $888.00 | $2,220.00 | — | 60% |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Surgical Path Level 4 Tju File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $888.00 | $2,220.00 | — | 60% |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Surgical Path Level 4 Tju File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $888.00 | $2,220.00 | — | 60% |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 590-1000 Surg Path-Level 4 File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $960.28 | $960.28 | $45.90–$864.25 | — |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton, MD · (410) 392-7009 AP EYE BX SENDOUT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,079.78 | $1,079.78 | — | — |
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
Check the item The description in the hospital file looks like a supply or device (a catheter, a brace, an implant), not this procedure. The hospital may have filed it under the wrong code: ask before relying on this price.
Outpatient: lowest $51.00, median $147.55, highest $960.28 — a 18.8× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 17 facilities here, median $154.90. 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 17 of 20 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.