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Opening the Collarbone Joint of the Shoulder

Alabama rates for HCPCS 23044

Opens one of the small joints the collarbone forms — either where it meets the tip of the shoulder blade at the top of the shoulder, or where it meets the breastbone — so the surgeon can look inside, wash out infection, or take out a loose fragment or foreign object. The joint is opened through a short incision directly over it. It targets those collarbone joints rather than the main ball-and-socket of the shoulder.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Opening the Collarbone Joint of the Shoulder cost?

$7,133

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,133 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $676 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$676$575 to $912
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$6,457$2,138 to $6,607

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6,457 · 10th to 90th $1,202 to $6,607Professionalmedian $676 · 10th to 90th $468 to $912
$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $6,457professional $676

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
$794.33
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$2,398.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$912.01
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6,456.54
Median
$6,606.93
Typical High
$6,606.93
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
32 · Mandated service
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$831.76
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$1,949.84
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$707.95
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$5,248.07
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$891.25
7 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
$457.09
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$457.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$181.97
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$676.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$134.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$91.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$630.96
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$9,772.37
Median
$9,772.37
Typical High
$9,772.37

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 4.1 times more in Wisconsin 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

Alabama· 2nd of 51

$7,133

$676 physician + $6,457 facility

WI $7,505MT $1,845

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.