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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Delaware 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?

$195

Typical negotiated rate. In Delaware, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $195 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $182 from a physician practice, and about $372 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$182$148 to $229
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$372$240 to $537

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $372 · 10th to 90th $200 to $1,698Professionalmedian $182 · 10th to 90th $123 to $282
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $372professional $182

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
$147.91
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$7,244.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$323.59
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$588.84
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$363.08
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$199.53
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$151.36
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$1,698.24
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$251.19
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
$72.44
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$44.67
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$154.88

Where Delaware 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.

Delaware· 44th of 51

$195

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.