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Cutting a Tight Tendon in the Forearm or Wrist

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 25290

Through an incision, a tendon in the forearm or wrist that is too tight is deliberately divided to release the pull it is putting on the wrist or fingers. Releasing it lets a joint that was being held in a bent or twisted position straighten out. It covers a single tendon; if more than one is released, each is billed separately.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Cutting a Tight Tendon in the Forearm or Wrist cost?

$501

Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $501 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $468 to $1,148.

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 $4,074 · 10th to 90th $1,660 to $26,915Professionalmedian $501 · 10th to 90th $437 to $1,288
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $4,074professional $501

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). 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
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$6,606.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$1,122.02
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$3,235.94
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$1,288.25
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$1,071.52
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$7,943.28
Typical High
$27,542.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,288.25
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
$218.78
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$275.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$407.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$81.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$54.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$380.19

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 6.3 times more in Alaska than in Utah. 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.

Washington, DC· 40th of 51

$501

AK $1,820UT $288

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.