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Lengthening or Shortening Several Leg Tendons

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 27686

More than one tendon in the lower leg or ankle is surgically lengthened or shortened through a single incision, to correct tightness or slack that is pulling the foot into a poor position. It is used for problems such as a foot held pointing down or turned inward. Each tendon treated is billed separately.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Lengthening or Shortening Several Leg Tendons cost?

$3,009

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,009 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $871 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,138 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$871$708 to $1,202
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,138$1,202 to $3,236

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,138 · 10th to 90th $603 to $6,918Professionalmedian $871 · 10th to 90th $562 to $1,585
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,138professional $871

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
$524.81
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$954.99
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$7,079.46
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,584.89
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$3,235.94
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,348.96
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,230.27
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$3,311.31
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,096.48
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$2,398.83
Typical High
$12,022.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,318.26
10 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
$302.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$120.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$457.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$91.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$60.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$426.58
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$5,011.87
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$1,698.24
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,137.96
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$724.44

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 4.3 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

North Carolina· 29th of 51

$3,009

$871 physician + $2,138 facility

WI $7,406MT $1,722

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.