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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Illinois 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?

$234

Typical negotiated rate. In Illinois, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $234 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $234 from a physician practice, and about $776 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$234$174 to $309
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$776$347 to $2,089

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $776 · 10th to 90th $257 to $3,388Professionalmedian $234 · 10th to 90th $148 to $372
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $776professional $234

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
$213.80
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$5,623.41
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$234.42
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$2,818.38
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$371.54
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$524.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$346.74
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$512.86
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$295.12
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$302.00
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$3,890.45
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$371.54
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
$70.79
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$107.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$32.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$21.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$147.91

Where Illinois 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.

Illinois· 27th of 51

$234

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.