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Removal of a Soft Tissue Growth in the Ear Canal

California rates for HCPCS 69540

Surgical removal of a soft tissue lesion — such as a cyst, polyp, or other growth — located in the external ear canal. The surgeon removes the growth, usually working through the ear canal itself without an outside incision, and the tissue may be sent to a lab for examination. It is used when a growth is causing blockage, discharge, hearing changes, or discomfort, or when the diagnosis needs to be confirmed.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal of a Soft Tissue Growth in the Ear Canal cost?

$214

Typical negotiated rate. In California, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $214 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $204 from a physician practice, and about $1,259 from a hospital or other facility.

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 12 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$204$138 to $295
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,259$550 to $4,074

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,259 · 10th to 90th $229 to $7,244Professionalmedian $204 · 10th to 90th $123 to $851
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,259professional $204

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
$645.65
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$15,848.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$363.08
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$9,549.93
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$602.56
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$6,165.95
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$416.87
Central California Alliance for Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$309.03
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$389.05
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$302.00
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$426.58
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,819.70
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$295.12
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$2,398.83
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$389.05
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$691.83
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$6,309.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$478.63
13 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$45.71
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$33.88
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$13.49
Typical High
$22.91
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$154.88
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$524.81

Where California sits

The same service costs 3.9 times more in Oklahoma than in Kentucky. 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.

California· 40th of 51

$214

OK $646KY $166

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.