go back

Opening the Elbow Joint to Drain or Explore

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 24000

Opens the elbow joint through an incision so the surgeon can look inside, wash out infected fluid, or take out a loose fragment or foreign object. It is most often needed for a joint infection, where pus has to be flushed out quickly before it destroys the cartilage. The joint is irrigated and then closed, sometimes over a drain.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Opening the Elbow Joint to Drain or Explore cost?

$1,148

Typical facility fee. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,148 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $617 to $7,586.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,148 · 10th to 90th $468 to $10,471Professionalmedian $776 · 10th to 90th $776 to $1,096
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,148professional $776

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. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$10,471.29
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$2,818.38
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$1,096.48
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$977.24
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,630.27
Median
$8,709.64
Typical High
$14,791.08
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9,332.54
Median
$9,332.54
Typical High
$33,884.42

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 21.9 times more in Indiana 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.

North Carolina· 43rd of 50

$1,148

IN $10,233WV $468

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.