go back

Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

New Jersey 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?

$195

Typical negotiated rate. In New Jersey, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $195 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $195 from a physician practice, and about $1,230 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$195$145 to $240
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,230$363 to $3,388

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,230 · 10th to 90th $209 to $6,166Professionalmedian $195 · 10th to 90th $132 to $309
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,230professional $195

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
$151.36
Median
$4,466.84
Typical High
$9,772.37
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$275.42
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$1,659.59
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$354.81
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$380.19
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$6,760.83
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$389.05
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$3,981.07
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$269.15
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
$72.44
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$104.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$31.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$20.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$147.91

Where New Jersey 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.

New Jersey· 43rd of 51

$195

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.