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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Virginia 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 Virginia, 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 $363 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 8 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$174 to $302
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$363$219 to $3,236

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $363 · 10th to 90th $166 to $6,918Professionalmedian $229 · 10th to 90th $148 to $447
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $363professional $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
$229.09
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$7,079.46
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$446.68
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,090.30
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$4,466.84
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$436.52
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$2,511.89
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$416.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$407.38
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$338.84
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$512.86
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$371.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$104.71
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$2,691.53
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$2,691.53
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$3,981.07
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$371.54

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 23rd 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.