go back

Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Wisconsin 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?

$525

Typical negotiated rate. In Wisconsin, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $525 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $479 from a physician practice, and about $1,950 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 11 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$479$263 to $871
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,950$631 to $3,467

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,950 · 10th to 90th $269 to $5,248Professionalmedian $479 · 10th to 90th $200 to $1,288
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,950professional $479

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
$144.54
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$14,454.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$1,096.48
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$6,165.95
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,318.26
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$1,000.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$891.25
DeanCare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$5,128.61
DeanCare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$537.03
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$4,168.69
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,659.59
Network Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$3,235.94
Network Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$616.60
Prevea360
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$398.11
Quartz
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$831.76
Quartz
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$1,071.52
Quartz
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$467.74
Security Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$724.44
Security Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,412.54
The Alliance
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,174.90
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$933.25
16 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$107.15
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$162.18
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$32.36
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$21.38
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$151.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$602.56
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$891.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$181.97
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$120.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$831.76
DeanCare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$269.15
DeanCare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$436.52
DeanCare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$107.15
DeanCare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$457.09

Where Wisconsin 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.

Wisconsin· 2nd of 51

$525

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.