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Opening a Joint at the Base of the Hand

Alabama rates for HCPCS 26070

Opens one of the joints where a finger's long hand bone meets the small bones of the wrist, so the surgeon can look inside, drain infection, or take out a loose fragment or foreign object. It is done through a short incision directly over the joint. It targets that base joint rather than the knuckle or the finger joints further out.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Opening a Joint at the Base of the Hand cost?

$2,277

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,277 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $372 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,905 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$372$316 to $525
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,905$1,023 to $1,950

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,905 · 10th to 90th $575 to $1,950Professionalmedian $372 · 10th to 90th $269 to $525
$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $1,905professional $372

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
$645.65
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,398.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$524.81
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$1,949.84
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
32 · Mandated service
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$467.74
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,096.48
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$407.38
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$3,162.28
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$512.86
7 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
$263.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$104.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$398.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$79.43
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$52.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$371.54
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$2,884.03

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 4.6 times more in Colorado 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

Alabama· 17th of 51

$2,277

$372 physician + $1,905 facility

CO $4,822MT $1,050

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.