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Opening a Joint at the Base of the Hand

Minnesota 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?

$1,692

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,692 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $692 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,000 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$692$501 to $955
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,000$617 to $2,042

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,000 · 10th to 90th $331 to $4,467Professionalmedian $692 · 10th to 90th $331 to $1,259
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,000professional $692

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
$331.13
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$331.13
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$251.19
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$50.12
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$234.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$251.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$50.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$234.42
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$4,677.35
Typical High
$11,220.18
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$3,162.28
Median
$5,754.40
Typical High
$10,715.19
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$1,122.02
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,698.24
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$891.25
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$223.87
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$954.99
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,621.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$1,380.38
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$1,348.96
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$1,318.26
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$3,890.45
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$3,388.44
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$4,265.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,174.90
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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11

Where Minnesota 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

Minnesota· 30th of 51

$1,692

$692 physician + $1,000 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.