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Feeding Tube Placement During Upper Endoscopy

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 43246

A flexible scope is passed through the mouth into the stomach and used to guide the placement of a feeding tube that passes directly through the abdominal wall into the stomach. The scope shows the right spot from inside so the tube can be brought through safely and secured. It is done for people who cannot swallow enough food safely and need nutrition delivered straight into the stomach.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Feeding Tube Placement During Upper Endoscopy cost?

$3,438

Typical total for the visit. Nationwide, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,438 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $275 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,162 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 59 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$275$200 to $427
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,162$1,072 to $5,623

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,162 · 10th to 90th $295 to $8,710Professionalmedian $275 · 10th to 90th $178 to $1,072
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $3,162professional $275

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. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$8,912.51
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$251.19
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$100.00
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$10,964.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$1,862.09
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$251.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$63.10
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$31.62
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$6,025.60

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 8.7 times more in California than in Virginia. 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

Touch or drag across the chart to see any state's rate.

CA $5,714VA $657

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.