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Early Change Of A Breathing Tube In The Neck

North Carolina 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?

$222

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $222 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $67.61 to the doctor who performs it, and $155 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

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.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$67.61$44.67 to $85.11
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$155$102 to $309

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $155 · 10th to 90th $72 to $871Professionalmedian $68 · 10th to 90th $36 to $110
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $155professional $68

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
$34.67
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$63.10
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$151.36
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$109.65
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$524.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$87.10
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$281.84
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$147.91
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$1,096.48
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$85.11
8 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
$17.38
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$20.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$8.32
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$30.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$5.13
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$6.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$4.17
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$26.30
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$141.25
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$74.13

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 24.8 times more in New York than in Montana. 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.

Physician feeFacility fee

North Carolina· 40th of 51

$222

$67.61 physician + $155 facility

NY $2,664MT $107

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.