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Removal Of A Voice Box Cartilage Through A Scope

Maine rates for HCPCS 31561

A scope is passed through the mouth into the larynx so the surgeon can work directly on the voice box, and the arytenoid, one of the small cartilages that moves a vocal cord, is removed. It is done to widen the airway when the vocal cords sit too close together and breathing is restricted.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal Of A Voice Box Cartilage Through A Scope cost?

$2,373

Typical total for the visit. In Maine, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,373 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $468 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,905 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$468$417 to $562
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,905$1,698 to $3,236

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,905 · 10th to 90th $1,072 to $3,981Professionalmedian $468 · 10th to 90th $339 to $646
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,905professional $468

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$562.34
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$645.65
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$4,365.16
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$758.58
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$3,311.31
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$630.96
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$562.34
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$3,311.31
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$676.08
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
$208.93
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$208.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$316.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$63.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$41.69

Where Maine sits

The same service costs 11.2 times more in Colorado 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

Maine· 40th of 51

$2,373

$468 physician + $1,905 facility

CO $11,216MT $1,002

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.