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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 October 2026.

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

$275

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $275 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $251 from a physician practice, and about $3,802 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$251$195 to $331
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$3,802$1,047 to $5,754

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,802 · 10th to 90th $331 to $8,511Professionalmedian $251 · 10th to 90th $155 to $457
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $3,802professional $251

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
$1,258.93
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$9,120.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$263.03
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,715.35
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$9,332.54
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$501.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$1,659.59
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$346.74
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$346.74
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$398.11
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$501.19
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$239.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$2,884.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$398.11
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
$97.72
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$19.50
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$154.88

Where Colorado 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.

Colorado· 14th of 51

$275

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.