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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Alaska rates for HCPCS 20520

This procedure removes a foreign object, such as a splinter, glass fragment, or piece of metal, that has become lodged in a muscle or the tissue sheath surrounding a tendon. It's the more straightforward version of this kind of removal, used when the object is relatively easy to locate and access. A small incision is typically made to reach and extract the object.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon cost?

$603

Typical negotiated rate. In Alaska, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $603 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $603 from a physician practice, and about $708 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$603$363 to $891
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$708$398 to $1,622

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $708 · 10th to 90th $316 to $7,079Professionalmedian $603 · 10th to 90th $186 to $1,023
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $708professional $603

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

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$7,079.46
Typical High
$14,125.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$1,023.29
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$1,258.93
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$660.69
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$1,445.44
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,071.52
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$549.54
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$891.25
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,621.81
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$512.86
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$2,951.21
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,071.52
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
$75.86
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$512.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$204.17
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$758.58
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$151.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$102.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$707.95

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 3.5 times more in Alaska than in Florida. 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.

Alaska· 1st of 51

$603

AK $603FL $174

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.