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Voice Box Exam With Stretching Of A Narrowing

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 31528

A scope is passed through the mouth into the voice box so the surgeon can look at it directly and widen a narrowed part of the airway, stretching it with a dilator or a balloon. It relieves noisy or difficult breathing and a weak voice caused by scarring or narrowing. This covers the first such stretching; repeat sessions are billed separately.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Voice Box Exam With Stretching Of A Narrowing cost?

$174

Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $174 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $155 to $407.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,818 · 10th to 90th $355 to $19,953Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $141 to $1,778
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $2,818professional $170

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$4,786.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$169.82
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$4,073.80
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$389.05
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$323.59
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$5,754.40
Typical High
$27,542.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$398.11

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 11.2 times more in Oklahoma 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.

Washington, DC· 45th of 51

$174

OK $1,622NY $145

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.