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Knee Arthroscopy With Drilling of Cartilage Lesion

New Hampshire rates for HCPCS 29886

A minimally invasive knee operation done through small incisions using a camera and narrow instruments. The surgeon drills tiny channels into the bone beneath a damaged patch of joint surface to bring in blood supply and encourage healing. It is used when the damaged piece is still sitting in place, so no screws or pins are added.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Knee Arthroscopy With Drilling of Cartilage Lesion cost?

$1,047

Typical negotiated rate. In New Hampshire, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,047 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $955 from a physician practice, and about $3,236 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$955$832 to $1,288
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$3,236$2,291 to $4,074

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,236 · 10th to 90th $2,188 to $6,310Professionalmedian $955 · 10th to 90th $692 to $1,738
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $3,236professional $955

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$11,481.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$724.44
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,467.37
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$11,481.54
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,737.80
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$2,630.27
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$3,981.07
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$812.83
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,949.84
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,187.76
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$4,677.35
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,905.46
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,187.76
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$4,677.35
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,621.81
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$1,096.48
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
$331.13
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$363.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$147.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$549.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$72.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$512.86

Where New Hampshire sits

The same service costs 7.4 times more in Alaska than in Texas. 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.

New Hampshire· 15th of 51

$1,047

AK $2,630TX $355

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.