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Early Change Of A Breathing Tube In The Neck

Maryland rates for HCPCS 31502

Replaces the breathing tube in a surgically created opening in the neck during the first days after it was placed, before the passage has healed into a stable channel. It is done carefully and with airway equipment on hand, because at this stage the opening can close down or the tube can be pushed into a false passage. Routine tube changes once the passage is well formed are a simpler service.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Early Change Of A Breathing Tube In The Neck cost?

$46.77

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $46.77 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $36.31 to $120.

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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $174 · 10th to 90th $85 to $617Professionalmedian $37 · 10th to 90th $32 to $71
$50$100$200$500$1Kfacility $174professional $37

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$74.13
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$43.65
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$602.56
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$89.13
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$66.07
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$616.60
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$87.10
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$47.86
5 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
$18.62
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$20.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$7.41
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$8.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$30.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$5.50
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$6.17
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$4.07

Where Maryland sits

The same service costs 5.5 times more in Tennessee than in New York. 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.

Maryland· 41st of 51

$46.77

TN $191NY $34.67

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.