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Opening the Collarbone Joint of the Shoulder

Colorado 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?

$6,960

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,960 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $794 to the doctor who performs it, and $6,166 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$794$661 to $1,023
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$6,166$3,090 to $8,710

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6,166 · 10th to 90th $1,820 to $12,589Professionalmedian $794 · 10th to 90th $575 to $1,288
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $6,166professional $794

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
$1,995.26
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$10,964.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$870.96
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
$660.69
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$1,412.54
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$3,311.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$1,000.00
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$1,230.27
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$1,096.48
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$2,754.23
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$831.76
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$11,220.18
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,174.90
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
$281.84
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$288.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$436.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$57.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$407.38

Where Colorado 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

Colorado· 3rd of 51

$6,960

$794 physician + $6,166 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.