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Strengthening A Weakened Upper Arm Bone

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 24498

Places metal such as a rod, plate, pins, or wires, sometimes together with bone cement, into the shaft of the humerus, the long bone of the upper arm, to support it before it breaks. It is used when a tumor or other disease has weakened the bone and a fracture looks likely.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Strengthening A Weakened Upper Arm Bone cost?

$5,989

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,989 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,202 to the doctor who performs it, and $4,786 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,202$851 to $1,862
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$4,786$1,820 to $13,490

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,786 · 10th to 90th $741 to $17,783Professionalmedian $1,202 · 10th to 90th $617 to $2,344
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $4,786professional $1,202

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
$1,258.93
Typical High
$8,317.64
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,000.00
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,786.30
Median
$7,585.78
Typical High
$19,054.61
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$2,511.89
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$12,022.64
Typical High
$17,782.79
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$2,137.96
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,995.26
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$14,454.40
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,412.54
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$17,782.79
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$2,089.30
14 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
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$489.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$194.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$724.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$147.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$97.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$676.08
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$5,370.32
Typical High
$30,199.52
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$10,000.00
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$3,090.30
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$1,023.29
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$407.38
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$288.40
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$288.40
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$288.40

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 7.5 times more in Alaska than in Hawaii. 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

North Carolina· 29th of 51

$5,989

$1,202 physician + $4,786 facility

AK $19,036HI $2,542

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.