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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 July 2026.

How much does Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon cost?

$234

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $234 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $229 from a physician practice, and about $309 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$229$178 to $324
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$309$214 to $1,660

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $309 · 10th to 90th $148 to $5,495Professionalmedian $229 · 10th to 90th $145 to $501
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $309professional $229

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$6,760.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$446.68
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$177.83
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$524.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$398.11
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$436.52
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$512.86
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$363.08
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$4,365.16
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$380.19
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$4,265.80
Wellcare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,862.09

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 2.2 times more in Minnesota than in Delaware. 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· 25th of 51

$234

MN $417DE $191

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.