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Opening a Joint at the Base of the Hand

Washington, DC 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?

$372

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $372 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $331 to $813.

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 $2,692 · 10th to 90th $501 to $16,218Professionalmedian $347 · 10th to 90th $282 to $955
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $2,692professional $347

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
$346.74
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$4,786.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$346.74
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$2,570.40
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$954.99
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$794.33
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$27,542.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$954.99
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
$147.91
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$52.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$34.67
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$245.47

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 6.2 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· 36th of 51

$372

AK $1,349UT $219

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.