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Application Of Skull Tongs Or Head Frame

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 20660

Attaches tongs or a frame to the skull to hold the head and neck steady. Removing the device later is part of this same service. It is provided on its own, not together with a related operation.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Application Of Skull Tongs Or Head Frame cost?

$251

Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $251 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $214 to $562.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,692 · 10th to 90th $501 to $16,218Professionalmedian $245 · 10th to 90th $191 to $676
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $2,692professional $245

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$4,786.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$257.04
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$2,570.40
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$676.08
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$562.34
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$27,542.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$676.08
5 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
$109.65
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$128.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$194.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$38.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$25.70

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 5.0 times more in Alaska than in Utah. 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.

Washington, DC· 41st of 51

$251

AK $977UT $195

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.