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Removal of a Soft Tissue Growth in the Ear Canal

Louisiana 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?

$229

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $229 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $200 from a physician practice, and about $1,660 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$200$145 to $245
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,660$447 to $2,399

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,660 · 10th to 90th $204 to $3,548Professionalmedian $200 · 10th to 90th $126 to $295
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,660professional $200

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
$389.05
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$3,548.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$281.84
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$4,265.80
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$269.15
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$1,778.28
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,174.90
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$354.81
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$3,388.44
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$295.12
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
$64.57
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$141.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$56.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$208.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$28.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$194.98

Where Louisiana 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.

Louisiana· 29th of 51

$229

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.