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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

North Carolina 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?

$309

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $309 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $309 from a physician practice, and about $316 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$309$214 to $398
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$316$229 to $550

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $316 · 10th to 90th $178 to $1,862Professionalmedian $309 · 10th to 90th $166 to $501
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $316professional $309

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
$144.54
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$7,244.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$309.03
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$489.78
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$537.03
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$562.34
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$436.52
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$512.86
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$354.81
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$467.74
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$2,754.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$426.58
8 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
$100.00
Typical High
$107.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$31.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$21.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$147.91
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$177.83
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$257.04

Where North Carolina 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.

North Carolina· 9th of 51

$309

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.