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Removal of a Soft Tissue Growth in the Ear Canal

Missouri 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?

$219

Typical negotiated rate. In Missouri, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $219 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $209 from a physician practice, and about $1,445 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$209$145 to $288
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,445$479 to $2,570

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,445 · 10th to 90th $158 to $3,981Professionalmedian $209 · 10th to 90th $129 to $479
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,445professional $209

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
$218.78
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$7,762.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$229.09
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$134.90
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$3,890.45
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$354.81
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$512.86
BCBS Kansas City
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$281.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$416.87
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$3,090.30
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,584.89
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$3,235.94
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$398.11
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
$56.23
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$162.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$32.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$151.36

Where Missouri 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.

Missouri· 35th of 51

$219

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.