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Small Cut To Open The Tear Drainage Opening

Colorado rates for HCPCS 68440

This is a minor procedure that makes a small snip in the tiny opening at the inner corner of the eyelid where tears normally drain. It is done to widen a narrowed drainage opening and relieve excess tearing.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Small Cut To Open The Tear Drainage Opening cost?

$138

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $138 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $120 from a physician practice, and about $3,236 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$120$93.33 to $135
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$3,236$1,905 to $5,495

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,236 · 10th to 90th $135 to $7,413Professionalmedian $120 · 10th to 90th $81 to $195
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $3,236professional $120

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$7,585.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$194.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$69.18
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$8,511.38
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$204.17
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$177.83
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$208.93
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$204.17
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$478.63
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$234.42
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$138.04
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$2,691.53
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$213.80

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 3.0 times more in Wyoming 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.

Colorado· 27th of 51

$138

WY $309MT $102

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.