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Emergency Opening of the Windpipe

Maryland rates for HCPCS 31603

Creates an airway in an emergency by cutting through the front of the neck directly into the windpipe and placing a tube so the person can breathe. It is done when the airway above is blocked or cannot be secured any other way and speed matters more than a tidy incision. Once the crisis passes the opening is usually converted to a planned, better-positioned one or allowed to close.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Emergency Opening of the Windpipe cost?

$339

Typical facility fee. In Maryland, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $339 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $302 to $427.

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 3 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $708 · 10th to 90th $692 to $3,162Professionalmedian $331 · 10th to 90th $295 to $550
$500$1K$2Kfacility $708professional $331

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. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$691.83
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$549.54
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$3,162.28

Where Maryland sits

The same service costs 21.4 times more in California than in North Dakota. 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· 48th of 50

$339

CA $6,761ND $316

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.