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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

South 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?

$219

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $219 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $219 from a physician practice, and about $955 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$219$170 to $263
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$955$398 to $1,778

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $955 · 10th to 90th $219 to $4,074Professionalmedian $219 · 10th to 90th $135 to $324
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $955professional $219

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
$169.82
Median
$5,623.41
Typical High
$21,877.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$245.47
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$204.17
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$2,041.74
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$281.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$707.95
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$338.84
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$295.12
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$331.13
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$346.74
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$6,606.93
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$316.23
7 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
$83.18
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$123.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$186.21
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$37.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$24.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$173.78
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$204.17

Where South 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.

South Carolina· 31st of 51

$219

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.