Price Checker / CPT 31730
CPT 31730 — Intro windpipe wire/tube
2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rates and hospital pricing data
$133
What Medicare pays in a hospital/ASC setting
$1,175
What Medicare pays in a physician's office
$1,225
Based on 3 hospital(s) in our database
What do these numbers mean?
The Medicare rateis what the federal government determines is a fair payment for this procedure. It's based on the Relative Value Unit (RVU) system, which accounts for physician work, practice expense, and malpractice cost. Hospitals and providers often charge 3-20x this amount. If your bill is significantly higher than the Medicare rate, you may have grounds to negotiate.
Hospital Charges for CPT 31730
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico Hospital , NM | $338 | — | 624% |
| UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center , NM | $338 | — | 624% |
| Muenster Memorial Hospital Muenster, TX | $3,000 | — | 79% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
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About CPT 31730
CPT code 31730 refers to “Intro windpipe wire/tube”. Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, this procedure is reimbursed at $133 in a facility (hospital or ambulatory surgery center) and $1,175in a non-facility (physician's office) setting.
These rates are set by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and represent what the government considers a fair payment for this service. While commercial insurance typically pays somewhat more than Medicare, many hospitals charge significantly higher amounts — sometimes 10-50x the Medicare rate.
What to do if you were overcharged
- Upload your bill— we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- Get a dispute letter— citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- Negotiate or let us handle it — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.