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Removal of a Soft Tissue Growth in the Ear Canal

Colorado 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?

$302

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $302 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $257 from a physician practice, and about $4,365 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$257$191 to $347
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$4,365$1,380 to $5,754

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,365 · 10th to 90th $324 to $8,511Professionalmedian $257 · 10th to 90th $151 to $457
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $4,365professional $257

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
$1,258.93
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$9,120.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$363.08
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,715.35
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$9,332.54
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$489.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$363.08
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$316.23
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$380.19
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$457.09
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$426.58
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$5,011.87
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$416.87
6 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
$67.61
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$13.80
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$154.88

Where Colorado 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.

Colorado· 10th of 51

$302

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.