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Small Cut To Open The Tear Drainage Opening

Iowa 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?

$174

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $174 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $135 from a physician practice, and about $2,239 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 8 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$135$105 to $209
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2,239$295 to $3,802

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,239 · 10th to 90th $182 to $6,761Professionalmedian $135 · 10th to 90th $93 to $676
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,239professional $135

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
$181.97
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$676.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$295.12
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$371.54
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$1,380.38
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$741.31
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$288.40
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$218.78
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$2,884.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$288.40
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$263.03

Where Iowa 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.

Iowa· 9th of 51

$174

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.