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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Colorado 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 July 2026.

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

$224

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $224 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $204 from a physician practice, and about $3,802 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 7 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$204$151 to $257
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$3,802$501 to $6,761

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,802 · 10th to 90th $204 to $8,511Professionalmedian $204 · 10th to 90th $145 to $398
$100.0$200.0$500.0$1.0K$2.0K$5.0K$10.0Kfacility $3,802professional $204

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
$218.78
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$7,585.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$346.74
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,548.13
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$10,964.78
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$457.09
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$630.96
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$407.38
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$371.54
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$512.86
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$501.19
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$257.04
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$3,715.35
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$436.52

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 2.2 times more in Minnesota than in Delaware. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Colorado $224 · 30th of 51
MN $417DE $191

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.