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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Iowa 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?

$372

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $372 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $355 from a physician practice, and about $562 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$355$295 to $490
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$562$339 to $2,818

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $562 · 10th to 90th $257 to $4,467Professionalmedian $355 · 10th to 90th $209 to $562
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $562professional $355

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
$295.12
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$6,760.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$338.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$338.84
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$512.86
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$389.05
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$3,981.07
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$1,659.59
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$489.78
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$338.84
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$562.34
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$4,897.79
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$489.78
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$562.34
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
$74.13
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$257.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$33.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$239.88

Where Iowa 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.

Iowa· 5th of 51

$372

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.