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Keyhole Muscle Release of the Lower Food Pipe

Massachusetts rates for HCPCS 43279

A keyhole operation through small abdominal incisions in which the tight muscle ring at the junction of the food pipe and the stomach is cut lengthways so food and drink can pass through. It treats a swallowing disorder in which that muscle fails to relax, leaving food stuck and coming back up. A wrap of the top of the stomach is added when needed to reduce acid reflux afterwards.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Keyhole Muscle Release of the Lower Food Pipe cost?

$3,951

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,951 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,089 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,862 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 10 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$2,089$1,514 to $3,467
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,862$1,230 to $3,890

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,862 · 10th to 90th $891 to $7,079Professionalmedian $2,089 · 10th to 90th $1,230 to $8,710
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,862professional $2,089

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
$2,691.53
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$5,128.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,238.72
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$7,244.36
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$8,709.64
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$2,818.38
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,000.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,659.59
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,090.30
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$3,467.37
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,290.87
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$11,220.18
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$3,801.89
Health New England
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,235.94
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$3,235.94
Health New England
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$1,122.02
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$7,244.36
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$9,332.54
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$4,897.79
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,905.46
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,174.90
3 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
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$1,445.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,202.26
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$478.63

Where Massachusetts sits

The same service costs 14.3 times more in Maine than in Delaware. 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· 47th of 51

$3,951

$2,089 physician + $1,862 facility

ME $48,433DE $3,397

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.