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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 October 2026.

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

$209

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $209 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $204 from a physician practice, and about $1,175 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$204$162 to $245
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,175$309 to $2,951

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,175 · 10th to 90th $174 to $4,898Professionalmedian $204 · 10th to 90th $141 to $295
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,175professional $204

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
$229.09
Median
$3,801.89
Typical High
$9,332.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$323.59
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$4,265.80
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$281.84
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$204.17
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$1,621.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$309.03
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$338.84
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$302.00
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$371.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$229.09
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$2,951.21
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$512.86
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$331.13
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
$77.62
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$46.77
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$34.67
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$23.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$162.18

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 35th of 51

$209

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.