Price Checker / CPT 31623
How much does Diagnostic Bronchoscope/brush cost?
CPT 31623 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 32x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$450–$910
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,600
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,150
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $21,938 is $21,258 over the fair price (about 32x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Diagnostic Bronchoscope/brush
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 Concord Medical Center , CA | $133,410 | $28,667 | 43937% |
| Franciscan Health Lafayette LAFAYETTE, IN | $76,503 | $19,661 | 25153% |
| Franciscan Health Munster MUNSTER, IN | $63,530 | $16,963 | 20871% |
| Clinch Memorial Hospital Homerville, GA | $10,475 | — | 3357% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $5,241 | — | 1630% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Round Rock Round Rock, TX | $5,241 | — | 1630% |
| Highland District Hospital HILLSBORO, OH | $5,173 | $4,138 | 1608% |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $3,284 | — | 1555% |
| Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center , NC | $3,284 | — | 1555% |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital , NC | $3,284 | — | 1555% |
| Solara Specialty Hospitals Brownsville Brownsville, TX | $4,898 | — | 1517% |
| Solara Specialty Hospitals Harlingen Harlingen, TX | $4,898 | — | 1517% |
| Betsy Johnson Hospital , NC | $3,284 | — | 196% |
| Central Harnett Hospital , NC | $3,284 | — | 196% |
| Hoke Hospital , NC | $3,284 | — | 196% |
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 Diagnostic Bronchoscope/brush
CPT code 31623 refers to diagnostic bronchoscope/brush (billing description: "Dx bronchoscope/brush"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $119 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $303 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.