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Application Of Skull Tongs Or Head Frame

New York 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?

$3,465

Typical total for the visit. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,465 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $229 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,236 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$229$204 to $257
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,236$1,479 to $5,012

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,236 · 10th to 90th $832 to $7,413Professionalmedian $229 · 10th to 90th $182 to $407
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $3,236professional $229

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
$1,659.59
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$9,120.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$281.84
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$7,943.28
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$346.74
CDPHP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$6,165.95
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$338.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$3,019.95
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$562.34
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$891.25
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$426.58
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$309.03
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$4,365.16
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$630.96
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$6,309.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$602.56
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$933.25
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$309.03
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
$123.03
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$131.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$52.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$39.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$26.30
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$181.97

Where New York 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

New York· 4th of 51

$3,465

$229 physician + $3,236 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.