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Repeat Stretching of the Voice Box Airway

Maryland 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 October 2026.

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

$219

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $219 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $170 to $955.

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 $1,622 · 10th to 90th $468 to $2,692Professionalmedian $174 · 10th to 90th $145 to $324
$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $1,622professional $174

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
$169.82
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$190.55
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$208.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,754.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$407.38
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$275.42
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$2,570.40
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$398.11
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$218.78
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
$87.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$38.02
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$141.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$28.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$19.05

Where Maryland sits

The same service costs 9.3 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.

Maryland· 38th of 51

$219

OK $1,479NY $158

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.