Price Checker / CPT 31500
How much does Insert Emergency Airway cost?
CPT 31500 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 65x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$200–$400
What this should cost
With insurance
~$65,700
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$500
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $19,481 is $19,181 over the fair price (about 65x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Insert Emergency Airway
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Muir Health Behavioral Health Center , CA | $62,403 | $28,081 | 46841% |
| John Muir Health Concord Medical Center , CA | $62,403 | $28,081 | 46841% |
| WTH Dyersburg Hospital , TN | — | $258 | 37509% |
| Centrastate Medical Center FREEHOLD, NJ | $38,677 | $7,594 | 28994% |
| Chilton Medical Center POMPTON PLAINS, NJ | $38,677 | $5,220 | 28994% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Psychiatry , OH | $34,113 | $20,468 | 25560% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Rehab , OH | $34,113 | $20,468 | 25560% |
| The Christ Hospital Liberty , OH | $34,113 | $20,468 | 25560% |
| The Christ Hospital , OH | $34,113 | $20,468 | 25560% |
| "St. Mary's General Hospital" PASSAIC, NJ | $20,511 | $367 | 15329% |
| AllianceHealth Madill Madill, OK | $23,243 | — | 15111% |
| Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems , MO | $10,389 | $7,272 | 7715% |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $1,039 | — | 3672% |
| Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center , NC | $1,039 | — | 3672% |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital , NC | $1,039 | — | 3672% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Insert Emergency Airway
CPT code 31500 refers to insert emergency airway (billing description: "Insert emergency airway"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $133 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $133 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.