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Removal of a Soft Tissue Growth in the Ear Canal

Tennessee 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?

$295

Typical negotiated rate. In Tennessee, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $295 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $219 from a physician practice, and about $1,349 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$219$158 to $339
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,349$661 to $2,291

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,349 · 10th to 90th $363 to $2,951Professionalmedian $219 · 10th to 90th $120 to $1,479
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,349professional $219

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
$1,071.52
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$7,585.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$263.03
BCBS Tennessee
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$2,884.03
BCBS Tennessee
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$446.68
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$380.19
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,819.70
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$208.93
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
$51.29
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$128.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$190.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$38.02
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$10.23
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$25.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$177.83

Where Tennessee 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.

Tennessee· 12th of 51

$295

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.