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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Louisiana 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?

$251

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $251 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $240 from a physician practice, and about $1,047 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$240$186 to $275
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,047$282 to $1,514

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $195 to $2,692Professionalmedian $240 · 10th to 90th $155 to $339
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,047professional $240

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
$263.03
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$3,548.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$316.23
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$134.90
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$2,951.21
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$338.84
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$1,513.56
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$676.08
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$363.08
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$2,511.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$323.59
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
$89.13
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$154.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$36.31
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$63.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$234.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$46.77
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$31.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$218.78

Where Louisiana 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.

Louisiana· 22nd of 51

$251

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.