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Opening A Forefoot Joint To Drain Or Explore

Massachusetts rates for HCPCS 28022

Opens a joint in the forefoot surgically to look inside, wash out infection, or take out a loose fragment of bone or cartilage or a foreign object. It is used when imaging or a needle drainage is not enough to clear or identify the problem. The joint is closed afterwards and usually protected in a stiff-soled shoe or boot.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Opening A Forefoot Joint To Drain Or Explore cost?

$1,739

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,739 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $692 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,047 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$692$479 to $1,122
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,047$457 to $2,344

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $363 to $4,266Professionalmedian $692 · 10th to 90th $372 to $1,622
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,047professional $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
$954.99
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$3,715.35
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$954.99
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$5,623.41
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$3,715.35
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$812.83
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$1,000.00
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$3,162.28
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,202.26
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$3,311.31
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$870.96
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$5,754.40
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,412.54
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$5,623.41
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$3,715.35
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$9,120.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,479.11
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$1,096.48
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$407.38
8 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
$151.36
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$478.63
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$190.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$724.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$676.08
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$660.69
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$288.40

Where Massachusetts sits

The same service costs 5.3 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

Massachusetts· 48th of 51

$1,739

$692 physician + $1,047 facility

CO $6,378MT $1,213

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.