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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 July 2026.

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

$1,479

Typical negotiated rate. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,479 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $219 from a physician practice, and about $4,571 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 12 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$219$148 to $355
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$4,571$2,951 to $6,607

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,571 · 10th to 90th $1,514 to $13,490Professionalmedian $219 · 10th to 90th $120 to $759
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $4,571professional $219

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
$2,187.76
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$18,197.01
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$933.25
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$4,466.84
Typical High
$12,882.50
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$524.81
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$8,709.64
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$489.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$234.42
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$549.54
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$331.13
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$416.87
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$4,786.30
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$1,737.80
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$295.12
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$380.19
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$478.63
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$691.83
The Alliance
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$234.42
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,238.72
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$9,549.93
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$478.63

Where California sits

The same service costs 9.1 times more in Oklahoma than in Rhode Island. 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· 2nd of 51

$1,479

OK $1,698RI $186

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.