go back

Partial Removal of the Breastbone

Colorado rates for HCPCS 21620

Removes part of the sternum, the flat bone running down the center of the chest. It is done to take out a section that is infected, dead, or involved by a growth, while leaving the remainder of the bone in place. Enough of the breastbone is kept that the ribs on each side retain their support.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Partial Removal of the Breastbone cost?

$7,164

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,164 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $708 to the doctor who performs it, and $6,457 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$708$589 to $912
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$6,457$3,236 to $9,772

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6,457 · 10th to 90th $1,995 to $12,882Professionalmedian $708 · 10th to 90th $501 to $1,122
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $6,457professional $708

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
$851.14
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$10,715.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$776.25
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,897.79
Median
$7,585.78
Typical High
$13,182.57
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$1,230.27
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$3,090.30
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$891.25
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$1,122.02
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$1,000.00
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$2,754.23
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$758.58
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,949.84
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$13,489.63
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$1,047.13
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
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$257.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$102.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$380.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$75.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$354.81

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 6.3 times more in Oklahoma than in Texas. 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

Colorado· 3rd of 51

$7,164

$708 physician + $6,457 facility

OK $9,723TX $1,554

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.