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Replacement Of A Urine Drainage Tube

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 50688

For a person who has a surgically created opening that diverts urine to the outside of the body, such as after bladder removal, this procedure exchanges the tube or stent that keeps a ureter draining properly through that opening. Over time, these tubes can become blocked, worn, or dislodged and need to be swapped out for a new one. It's typically a routine, relatively quick procedure done without a new incision.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Replacement Of A Urine Drainage Tube cost?

$1,392

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,392 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $162 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,230 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$162$107 to $195
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,230$603 to $1,862

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,230 · 10th to 90th $389 to $3,467Professionalmedian $162 · 10th to 90th $85 to $234
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,230professional $162

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
$74.13
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$151.36
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$3,548.13
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$251.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,995.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$208.93
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$1,412.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$165.96
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$4,365.16
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$190.55
10 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
$37.15
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$45.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$18.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$13.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.41
Median
$7.41
Typical High
$9.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$64.57
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$3,162.28
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$1,047.13
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$331.13
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$109.65

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 18.4 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

North Carolina· 27th of 51

$1,392

$162 physician + $1,230 facility

CO $4,483MT $243

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.