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Keyhole Smoothing Of Knee Cartilage

Arkansas rates for HCPCS 29877

Keyhole knee surgery in which rough, frayed or loose cartilage on the joint surfaces is trimmed and smoothed away with a small powered shaver passed through a tiny incision. Clearing the loose flaps can ease catching, grinding and pain.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Keyhole Smoothing Of Knee Cartilage cost?

$2,573

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,573 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $794 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,778 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$794$661 to $871
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,778$1,479 to $3,020

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,778 · 10th to 90th $1,047 to $4,169Professionalmedian $794 · 10th to 90th $490 to $1,000
$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,778professional $794

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
$741.31
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$2,511.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$851.14
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$851.14
BCBS Arkansas
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$3,019.95
Typical High
$4,168.69
BCBS Arkansas
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$870.96
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,862.09
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,071.52
Qualchoice
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,000.00
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$4,466.84
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$676.08
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
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$371.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$147.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$562.34
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$112.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$74.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$524.81

Where Arkansas sits

The same service costs 4.2 times more in Connecticut 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

Arkansas· 47th of 51

$2,573

$794 physician + $1,778 facility

CT $8,436MT $2,023

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.