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Middle Ear Exploration Through Ear Canal

South Carolina rates for HCPCS 69440

A surgeon reaches the middle ear through a small incision in the ear canal or behind the ear, then lifts the eardrum aside without cutting through it to view the small bones and structures of the middle ear directly, checking for damage, fluid, or other abnormalities. A small tissue sample can be taken during the same visit if something suspicious is found. This approach gives a much closer view than what can be seen from outside the ear alone.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Middle Ear Exploration Through Ear Canal cost?

$2,503

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,503 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $724 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,778 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$724$562 to $912
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,778$1,122 to $6,761

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,778 · 10th to 90th $776 to $10,965Professionalmedian $724 · 10th to 90th $105 to $1,096
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,778professional $724

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
$758.58
Median
$10,000.00
Typical High
$21,877.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$758.58
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$10,232.93
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$1,202.26
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$2,398.83
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$1,445.44
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,995.26
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$1,047.13
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$1,071.52
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$14,791.08
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,380.38
8 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
$338.84
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$380.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$151.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$575.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$75.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$537.03
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,862.09
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$616.60

Where South Carolina sits

The same service costs 3.8 times more in Oklahoma than in West Virginia. 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

South Carolina· 40th of 51

$2,503

$724 physician + $1,778 facility

OK $7,251WV $1,923

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.