go back

Application Of Skull Tongs Or Head Frame

Iowa 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?

$2,645

Typical total for the visit. In Iowa, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,645 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $457 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,188 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

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.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$457$339 to $537
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,188$676 to $3,715

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,188 · 10th to 90th $407 to $5,248Professionalmedian $457 · 10th to 90th $269 to $661
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $2,188professional $457

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
$602.56
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$6,760.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$363.08
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$2,041.74
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$645.65
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$630.96
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$4,786.30
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$1,819.70
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$660.69
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$1,819.70
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$812.83
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$5,495.41
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$630.96
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$524.81
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
$102.33
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$181.97
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$72.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$269.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$53.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$36.31

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 6.2 times more in Colorado than in Montana. 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.

Physician feeFacility fee

Iowa· 11th of 51

$2,645

$457 physician + $2,188 facility

CO $4,689MT $752

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.