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Opening A Forefoot Joint To Drain Or Explore

Virginia 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?

$3,551

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,551 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $389 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,162 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$389$339 to $501
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,162$1,023 to $6,026

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,162 · 10th to 90th $427 to $9,550Professionalmedian $389 · 10th to 90th $309 to $661
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $3,162professional $389

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
$512.86
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$9,332.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$724.44
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,677.35
Median
$6,456.54
Typical High
$7,244.36
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$446.68
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$478.63
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$3,090.30
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$691.83
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$741.31
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$645.65
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$891.25
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$562.34
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$8,709.64
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,174.90
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$13,182.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$758.58
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
$169.82
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$275.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$416.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$54.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$389.05

Where Virginia 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

Virginia· 12th of 51

$3,551

$389 physician + $3,162 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.