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Application Of Skull Tongs Or Head Frame

Virginia 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?

$2,258

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,258 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $263 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,995 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$263$229 to $295
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,995$759 to $3,802

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,995 · 10th to 90th $302 to $6,026Professionalmedian $263 · 10th to 90th $200 to $372
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,995professional $263

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
$275.42
Median
$4,786.30
Typical High
$14,125.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$338.84
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$4,265.80
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$323.59
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$275.42
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$371.54
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$302.00
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$389.05
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$446.68
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$302.00
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$3,630.78
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$588.84
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$5,888.44
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$426.58
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
$123.03
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$138.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$54.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$204.17
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$41.69
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$27.54

Where Virginia 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

Virginia· 14th of 51

$2,258

$263 physician + $1,995 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.