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Cutting a Tight Tendon in the Forearm or Wrist

Maryland 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?

$468

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $468 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $437 to $676.

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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,778 · 10th to 90th $537 to $3,467Professionalmedian $457 · 10th to 90th $417 to $741
$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,778professional $457

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$467.74
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$501.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$851.14
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$794.33
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,890.45
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$1,023.29
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$676.08
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
$218.78
Typical High
$234.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$93.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$346.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$46.77
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$323.59

Where Maryland 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.

Maryland· 44th of 51

$468

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.