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External Frame With Computer-Guided Adjustment

California rates for HCPCS 20696

An external frame is attached to a limb by pins and wires passed through the bone in more than one direction, holding the bone from outside the skin. A computer program then works out a schedule of small daily adjustments to the frame, gradually moving the bone into the correct position over the following weeks. Imaging and the follow-up adjustment calculations are included.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does External Frame With Computer-Guided Adjustment cost?

$8,913

Typical facility fee. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8,913 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $6,166 to $12,882.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9,333 · 10th to 90th $3,311 to $18,197Professionalmedian $1,288 · 10th to 90th $832 to $3,236
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $9,333professional $1,288

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,951.21
Median
$7,079.46
Typical High
$19,054.61
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6,025.60
Median
$10,471.29
Typical High
$17,782.79
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$11,481.54
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$29,512.09
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,659.59
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$3,235.94
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$100,000.00
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$2,398.83
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5,370.32
Median
$10,232.93
Typical High
$22,908.68

Where California sits

The same service costs 46.8 times more in Maine than in West Virginia. 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.

California· 8th of 50

$8,913

ME $54,954WV $1,175

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.