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Removal of an External Fixator Under Anesthesia

North Dakota 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?

$1,203

Typical total for the visit. In North Dakota, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,203 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $776 to the doctor who performs it, and $427 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$776$575 to $933
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$427$347 to $1,023

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $427 · 10th to 90th $339 to $1,698Professionalmedian $776 · 10th to 90th $398 to $1,122
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $427professional $776

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
$338.84
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$426.58
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$323.59
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$302.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$562.34
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$331.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$309.03
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,122.02
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
22 · Increased work
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,348.96
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$794.33
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$112.20
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$851.14
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$870.96
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$1,174.90
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$1,698.24
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$2,570.40
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,698.24
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$851.14
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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$213.80
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$85.11
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$64.57
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$66.07

Where North Dakota 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

North Dakota· 48th of 51

$1,203

$776 physician + $427 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.