Price Checker / CPT 31624
How much does Diagnostic Bronchoscope/lavage cost?
CPT 31624 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 58x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$430–$860
What this should cost
With insurance
~$124,400
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,100
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $37,557 is $36,907 over the fair price (about 58x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Diagnostic Bronchoscope/lavage
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad Medical Center Carlsbad, NM | $224,779 | — | 72929% |
| John Muir Health Concord Medical Center , CA | $134,692 | $60,611 | 46954% |
| Franciscan Health Lafayette LAFAYETTE, IN | $66,562 | $17,106 | 23153% |
| Franciscan Health Munster MUNSTER, IN | $56,807 | $15,167 | 19745% |
| Franciscan Health Olympia Fields , IL | $39,248 | $7,850 | 13611% |
| Los Alamos Medical Center LOS ALAMOS, NY | $32,062 | — | 11101% |
| Clinch Memorial Hospital Homerville, GA | $10,475 | — | 3559% |
| UPMC Bedford , PA | $6,867 | $5,494 | 2299% |
| Highland District Hospital HILLSBORO, OH | $5,173 | $4,138 | 1707% |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $3,215 | — | 1652% |
| Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center , NC | $3,215 | — | 1652% |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital , NC | $3,215 | — | 1652% |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - TAYLOR Taylor, TX | — | — | 1632% |
| Betsy Johnson Hospital , NC | $3,215 | — | 213% |
| Central Harnett Hospital , NC | $3,215 | — | 213% |
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/lavage
CPT code 31624 refers to diagnostic bronchoscope/lavage (billing description: "Dx bronchoscope/lavage"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $121 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $286 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.