Price Checker / CPT 31720
How much does Clearance Of Airways cost?
CPT 31720 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 27x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$70–$140
What this should cost
With insurance
~$68,500
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$180
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $2,929 is $2,819 over the fair price (about 27x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Clearance Of Airways
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTUS Louisiana Surgical Hospital , LA | — | $307 | 30749% |
| University of New Mexico Hospital , NM | $79 | — | 18630% |
| UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center , NM | $79 | — | 18630% |
| "Children's Hospital of Michigan" DETROIT, MI | — | — | 17818% |
| "St. John's Hospital Camarillo" SPRINGFIELD, CA | — | — | 17140% |
| Arroyo Grande Community Hospital , CA | — | — | 15661% |
| MOUNTAINVIEW HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER Las Vegas, NV | — | — | 14122% |
| SOUTHERN HILLS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER Las Vegas, NV | — | — | 14122% |
| THE WOMANS HOSPITAL OF TEXAS Houston, TX | — | — | 12757% |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $410 | — | 10937% |
| Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center , NC | $410 | — | 10937% |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital , NC | $410 | — | 10937% |
| Good Samaritan Hospital - Bakersfield CINCINNATI, CA | $1,118 | — | 7256% |
| AnMed Health Cannon ANDERSON, SC | — | — | 6285% |
| University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center CONNEAUT, OH | — | — | 5507% |
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 Clearance Of Airways
CPT code 31720 refers to clearance of airways (billing description: "Clearance of airways"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $45 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $45 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.