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Application Of Skull Tongs Or Head Frame

Minnesota 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?

$1,226

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,226 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $468 to the doctor who performs it, and $759 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$468$363 to $646
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$759$380 to $1,862

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $759 · 10th to 90th $219 to $4,467Professionalmedian $468 · 10th to 90th $229 to $871
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $759professional $468

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
$218.78
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$288.40
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$5,623.41
Typical High
$12,022.64
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$794.33
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$1,071.52
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$912.01
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$891.25
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$870.96
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$3,467.37
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$1,819.70
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$4,265.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$870.96
10 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
$109.65
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$123.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$186.21
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$37.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$24.55

Where Minnesota 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

Minnesota· 43rd of 51

$1,226

$468 physician + $759 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.