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Repeat Stretching of the Voice Box Airway

California rates for HCPCS 31529

A scope is passed into the voice box, and the windpipe below it when needed, and a narrowed section of the airway is stretched open with a balloon or dilator. It is used when scarring or swelling has tightened the airway, causing noisy or difficult breathing or a weak voice. This is a repeat stretching, carried out after an earlier one.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Repeat Stretching of the Voice Box Airway cost?

$5,888

Typical facility fee. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,888 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $3,890 to $8,710.

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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,888 · 10th to 90th $2,512 to $13,804Professionalmedian $178 · 10th to 90th $138 to $363
$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $5,888professional $178

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$6,456.54
Typical High
$18,197.01
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,548.13
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$13,489.63
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$8,912.51
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$2,398.83
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$281.84
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$363.08
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9,549.93
Median
$28,840.32
Typical High
$28,840.32
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$389.05
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,981.07
Median
$7,413.10
Typical High
$15,135.61

Where California sits

The same service costs 60.3 times more in Indiana than in West Virginia. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

California $5,888 · 8th of 50
IN $9,333WV $155

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.