go back

Free Muscle Flap For Facial Paralysis

Iowa 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 October 2026.

How much does Free Muscle Flap For Facial Paralysis cost?

$4,365

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,365 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4,677 from a physician practice, and about $3,388 from a hospital or other facility.

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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$4,677$3,467 to $6,457
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$3,388$1,862 to $5,495

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,388 · 10th to 90th $1,047 to $6,761Professionalmedian $4,677 · 10th to 90th $2,951 to $7,586
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $3,388professional $4,677

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,073.80
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$7,244.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$4,073.80
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$2,344.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,888.44
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$7,585.78
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$3,801.89
Typical High
$6,606.93
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$6,760.83
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,090.30
Median
$5,754.40
Typical High
$8,511.38
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,888.44
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$7,413.10
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$2,344.23
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$6,165.95
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$7,413.10
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,466.84
Median
$4,677.35
Typical High
$4,677.35
6 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$2,041.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$812.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$3,090.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$616.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$407.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,659.59
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$2,884.03

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 15.8 times more in Alaska than in Texas. 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.

Iowa· 9th of 51

$4,365

AK $8,128TX $513

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.