go back

Removal of an External Fixator Under Anesthesia

Montana rates for HCPCS 20694

Takes off an external fixation frame — the metal scaffold outside the limb that is held to the bone by pins or wires — once the bone underneath has healed enough to do without it. It is done in an operating room under an anesthetic, because drawing pins out of bone is painful and the pin wounds need cleaning. The small openings are dressed and close over in the following weeks.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal of an External Fixator Under Anesthesia cost?

$1,166

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,166 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $550 to the doctor who performs it, and $617 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$550$490 to $692
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$617$562 to $794

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $617 · 10th to 90th $525 to $1,000Professionalmedian $550 · 10th to 90th $355 to $708
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $617professional $550

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$691.83
BCBS Montana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$2,454.71
BCBS Montana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$691.83
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$3,981.07
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$691.83
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$851.14
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$851.14
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$3,981.07
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$691.83
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,862.09
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$776.25

Where Montana sits

The same service costs 3.8 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

Montana· 51st of 51

$1,166

$550 physician + $617 facility

CO $4,471MT $1,166

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.