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Vocal Cord Injection Via Rigid Scope

Alabama rates for HCPCS 31571

A doctor uses a rigid scope along with an operating microscope, inserted through the mouth, to view the voice box and inject a substance into a vocal cord to add bulk or improve its position. This approach is typically done in an operating room under anesthesia, and it can help improve the voice or swallowing when a vocal cord is not closing properly, such as after vocal cord paralysis.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Vocal Cord Injection Via Rigid Scope cost?

$3,120

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,120 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $302 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,818 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$302$269 to $417
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,818$1,738 to $2,818

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,818 · 10th to 90th $871 to $3,162Professionalmedian $302 · 10th to 90th $229 to $479
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $2,818professional $302

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
$645.65
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,398.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$457.09
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$134.90
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$2,818.38
Typical High
$2,818.38
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
32 · Mandated service
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$537.03
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$1,995.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$549.54
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$4,265.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$371.54
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
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$309.03
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 Alabama sits

The same service costs 8.5 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

Alabama· 16th of 51

$3,120

$302 physician + $2,818 facility

CO $6,252MT $735

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.