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Cutting a Tight Tendon in the Forearm or Wrist

Iowa 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?

$4,068

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,068 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $977 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,090 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$977$724 to $1,122
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,090$1,230 to $5,495

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,090 · 10th to 90th $1,096 to $8,710Professionalmedian $977 · 10th to 90th $490 to $1,585
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $3,090professional $977

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
$707.95
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$7,244.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$1,071.52
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$3,235.94
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,258.93
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$2,041.74
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$8,912.51
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$5,248.07
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,174.90
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$3,235.94
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$2,754.23
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$954.99
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$9,772.37
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$1,230.27
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,023.29
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
$204.17
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$346.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$141.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$524.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$104.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$70.79
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$489.78

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 5.0 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

Iowa· 12th of 51

$4,068

$977 physician + $3,090 facility

WI $7,200MT $1,432

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.