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Making a Drainage Opening Into the Bladder

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 51040

Makes an opening into the bladder through a small cut in the lower abdomen so that urine can drain out, normally through a tube left in place. It is done when urine cannot leave by the usual route — because of a blockage, an injury, or a passage that cannot be catheterized — or when the bladder needs to be rested and drained. The opening can be temporary or long-term.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Making a Drainage Opening Into the Bladder cost?

$2,209

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,209 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $550 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,660 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$550$380 to $646
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,660$1,096 to $2,399

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,660 · 10th to 90th $676 to $4,571Professionalmedian $550 · 10th to 90th $302 to $776
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,660professional $550

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
$281.84
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$8,511.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$489.78
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$2,818.38
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$794.33
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$2,570.40
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$758.58
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,412.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$645.65
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$707.95
12 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
$141.25
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$52.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$34.67
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$245.47
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$1,047.13
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$407.38
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$165.96
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$114.82
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$114.82
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$114.82

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 6.6 times more in Oklahoma 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· 29th of 51

$2,209

$550 physician + $1,660 facility

OK $6,126MT $925

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.