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Free Muscle Flap For Facial Paralysis

California rates for HCPCS 15842

Microsurgery that transfers a muscle from elsewhere in the body into a paralysed face along with its own artery, vein, and nerve. Those vessels are reconnected under a microscope so the muscle keeps its blood supply, and the nerve is wired to a source of signal so the muscle can contract and produce a smile. It is used for long-standing facial paralysis where the original muscles can no longer recover.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Free Muscle Flap For Facial Paralysis cost?

$7,079

Typical negotiated rate. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,079 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $2,951 from a physician practice, and about $8,913 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 12 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$2,951$2,291 to $6,310
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8,913$6,166 to $12,882

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8,913 · 10th to 90th $3,548 to $17,783Professionalmedian $2,951 · 10th to 90th $2,042 to $14,454
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $8,913professional $2,951

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,630.78
Median
$8,128.31
Typical High
$22,908.68
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$16,218.10
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5,623.41
Median
$10,232.93
Typical High
$17,782.79
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$8,128.31
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$8,709.64
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$5,623.41
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$4,168.69
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$6,456.54
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$3,235.94
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,187.76
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$5,623.41
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$16,595.87
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19,498.45
Median
$22,908.68
Typical High
$22,908.68
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,890.45
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$3,890.45
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,238.72
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$4,168.69
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$6,760.83
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8,912.51
Median
$8,912.51
Typical High
$8,912.51
The Alliance
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$2,884.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$9,549.93
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,041.74
Median
$2,818.38
Typical High
$6,025.60

Where California sits

The same service costs 3.2 times more in California than in Arkansas. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

California· 1st of 51

$7,079

CA $7,079AR $2,188

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.