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Emergency Opening of the Windpipe

Virginia 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?

$2,042

Typical facility fee. In Virginia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,042 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $417 to $4,677.

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 $2,042 · 10th to 90th $302 to $7,079Professionalmedian $331 · 10th to 90th $269 to $741
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,042professional $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
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$8,317.64
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,090.30
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$4,466.84
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$831.76
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$741.31
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$630.96
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$4,073.80
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,754.40

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 31st of 50

$2,042

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.