go back

Open Drainage of an Abscess in the Abdomen

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 49020

Opens the abdomen to drain a walled-off pocket of pus inside the abdominal cavity and wash out the infected area. The surgeon finds the collection, releases the pus, cleans the space, and usually leaves a drain so any remaining fluid can escape. It is used when the infection cannot be drained with a needle through the skin.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Open Drainage of an Abscess in the Abdomen cost?

$3,326

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,326 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,455 to the doctor who performs it, and $871 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$2,455$2,089 to $3,311
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$871$603 to $2,512

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $871 · 10th to 90th $398 to $6,761Professionalmedian $2,455 · 10th to 90th $1,585 to $4,266
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $871professional $2,455

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
$1,288.25
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$2,041.74
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$2,818.38
Typical High
$4,466.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$29,512.09
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$3,090.30
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$3,715.35
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$2,454.71
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$1,995.26
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,230.27
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$5,011.87
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$3,019.95
11 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
$776.25
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$933.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$371.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,380.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$275.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$186.21
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$1,288.25
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,023.29
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$426.58
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$295.12
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$295.12
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$295.12

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 8.1 times more in Maine than in Maryland. 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

North Carolina· 36th of 51

$3,326

$2,455 physician + $871 facility

ME $17,891MD $2,222

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.