Emergent Insertion of Breathing Tube Into Windpipe Using an Endoscope Cost in Iowa
What this costs without insurance: real self-pay cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates at 65 Iowa hospitals. CPT 31500. Sourced directly from each facility's CMS-mandated transparency file. Dataset: Q4 2026.
📊 Median $347
📉 Low $25.20
📈 High $1,591
🏥 65 hospitals
🏛️ 53 with insurance contracts
🇺🇸 Medicare $122
Hospital comparison — Iowa
Sorted by cash price (lowest first). Showing top 60 of 65 hospitals.
Billed more than $347 for this? That gap is evidence.
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| Hospital | Cash | UHC | Aetna | BCBS | Humana | Molina | Cigna | MultiPlan | Centene |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RINGGOLD COUNTY HOSPITAL MT AYR |
$25.20 | — | $15.96 | — | $15.96 | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MASON CITY |
$47.84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE WATERLOO MEDICAL CENTER WATERLOO |
$47.84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE DES MOINES MEDICAL CENTER DES MOINES |
$47.84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE NEW HAMPTON NEW HAMPTON |
$47.84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE DUBUQUE DUBUQUE |
$47.84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CHI HEALTH MERCY CORNING CORNING |
$88.80 | $79.55 | — | $79.55 | $79.55 | $82.74 | — | $181 | $81.15 |
| CHI HEALTH MISSOURI VALLEY MISSOURI VALLEY |
$90.65 | $64.75 | — | $167 | $64.75 | $82.74 | — | $181 | $66.05 |
| PELLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER PELLA |
$128 | $76.80 | $48.64 | $48.64 | $48.64 | $44.80 | — | $89.60 | — |
| REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES OF HOWARD COUNTY CRESCO |
$150 | $73.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LUCAS COUNTY HEALTH CENTER CHARITON |
$166 | $102 | $102 | — | $102 | $130 | — | — | — |
| BUCHANAN COUNTY HEALTH CENTER INDEPENDENCE |
$192 | $38.00 | $36.00 | $36.00 | $36.00 | $38.00 | $83.00 | — | — |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HUMBOLDT |
$199 | $96.00 | $71.00 | $77.84 | $77.84 | $77.84 | $75.00 | $75.00 | — |
| CLARKE COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL OSCEOLA |
$202 | $145 | $145 | $145 | $145 | $114 | $589 | — | — |
| HAWARDEN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE HARWARDEN |
$221 | $131 | — | $131 | — | — | — | — | — |
| GREENE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER JEFFERSON |
$227 | $69.00 | $100 | — | $52.00 | $52.00 | — | — | $52.00 |
| DALLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL PERRY |
$245 | $140 | $137 | — | $137 | $163 | — | — | — |
| LORING HOSPITAL SAC CITY |
$250 | $95.00 | $77.00 | — | $77.00 | $89.00 | $96.00 | — | — |
| OSCEOLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER SIBLEY |
$261 | $85.30 | — | $10.00 | — | — | — | — | — |
| REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER MANCHESTER |
$263 | $37.70 | $34.34 | — | — | — | $88.03 | $95.00 | — |
| FLOYD VALLEY HOSPITAL LE MARS |
$266 | $85.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SIOUX CENTER HEALTH AVERA SIOUX CENTER |
$268 | $85.30 | — | $300 | — | — | — | — | — |
| MONTGOMERY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL RED OAK |
$277 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH JONES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ANAMOSA |
$280 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $126 | — | $336 | — | — |
| GUTTENBERG MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL GUTTENBERG |
$284 | $52.00 | $52.00 | — | $52.52 | $52.52 | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE OELWEIN MEDICAL CENTER OELWEIN |
$292 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE CEDAR FALLS MEDICAL CENTER CEDAR FALLS |
$299 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| GREATER REGIONAL HEALTH W TOWNLINE ST CRESTON |
$315 | $59.00 | $63.00 | $64.00 | $64.00 | $59.00 | $89.00 | — | — |
| POCAHONTAS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL POCAHONTAS |
$318 | $96.00 | $60.00 | $64.00 | $95.00 | $50.00 | $97.00 | — | — |
| STORY COUNTY HOSPITAL NORTH NEVADA |
$323 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $74.00 | — | — | — |
| COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SUMNER |
$324 | $58.80 | $63.00 | $49.00 | $63.00 | $61.00 | — | — | — |
| BURGESS HEALTH CENTER ONAWA |
$326 | $51.00 | $51.00 | $51.00 | $51.00 | — | — | — | — |
| STEWART MEMORIAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LAKE CITY |
$347 | $50.00 | $50.00 | — | $52.00 | $52.00 | $66.00 | $50.00 | — |
| MERCYONE CLINTON CLINTON |
$355 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTHCARE FINLEY HOSPITAL DUBUQUE |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | $129 | $278 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY BETTENDORF |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | — | $336 | — | $126 |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL CEDAR RAPIDS |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | $129 | $336 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH BLANK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL DES MOINES |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | $129 | $336 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ST. LUKE'S SIOUX CITY |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | $129 | $336 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FORT DODGE |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | — | $319 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH IOWA LUTHERAN HOSPITAL DES MOINES |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | $129 | $336 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH MARSHALLTOWN MARSHALLTOWN |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | $129 | $336 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH GRINNELL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER GRINNELL |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | $129 | $336 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ALLEN HOSPITAL WATERLOO |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $129 | $133 | $129 | $336 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY MUSCATINE MUSCATINE |
$360 | $133 | $126 | $126 | $133 | — | $336 | — | $126 |
| CHI HEALTH MERCY COUNCIL BLUFFS COUNCIL BLUFFS |
$362 | $226 | — | $226 | $226 | $225 | — | $612 | $129 |
| PALO ALTO COUNTY HOSPITAL EMMETSBURG |
$364 | $48.00 | — | $48.00 | $48.00 | $60.00 | — | — | — |
| CHEROKEE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CHEROKEE |
$370 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $100 | $100 | $55.00 | $100 | — | — |
| BUENA VISTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER TH ST STORM LAKE |
$390 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $53.00 | — | $90.00 | — | $53.00 |
| JACKSON COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER MAQUOKETA |
$397 | $218 | $333 | $2,021 | $142 | — | — | — | — |
| HEGG HEALTH CENTER ROCK VALLEY |
$398 | $85.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BROADLAWNS MEDICAL CENTER DES MOINES |
$400 | $230 | $230 | — | — | — | $184 | — | — |
| BROADLAWNS MEDICAL CENTER - CLINICS DES MOINES |
$400 | $188 | $155 | — | — | — | $400 | — | — |
| GRUNDY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GRUNDY CENTER |
$417 | $49.00 | $49.00 | $49.00 | $49.00 | $56.00 | $95.00 | — | — |
| SPENCER HOSPITAL SPENCER |
$427 | — | — | — | — | $1.00 | — | — | — |
| LAKES REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SPIRIT LAKE |
$431 | $76.20 | — | $149 | — | — | — | — | — |
| AVERA HOLY FAMILY HOSPITAL ESTHERVILLE |
$436 | $85.30 | — | $17.60 | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE WEST DES MOINES MEDICAL CENTER WEST DES MOINES |
$450 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE CENTERVILLE MEDICAL CENTER CENTERVILLE |
$450 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AVERA MERRILL PIONEER HOSPITAL ROCK RAPIDS |
$459 | $85.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
What these prices are. Each figure is the facility’s own published self-pay (cash) price for CPT 31500, filed under the federal price transparency rule (45 CFR Part 180). Hospital facility charges may not include separate physician, anesthesia, or pathology fees. National median for this code: $428 across all reporting facilities. Dataset: Q4 2026. Always confirm the final price with the facility before booking.
Billed more than $347 for this?
That is the median of what the 65 Iowa hospitals above publish for Emergent insertion of breathing tube into windpipe using an endoscope — their own figures, filed under federal law. A bill well above them is evidence you can put in writing.
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Medicare reimbursement benchmark
For CPT 31500 in Iowa, Medicare reimburses about $122 on the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility, state average across localities). Hospital cash prices for the same code in Iowa range from $25.20 to $1,591 — that means hospital cash prices are typically 2.9x what Medicare pays. If a self-pay quote you receive is more than 2-3x the Medicare rate, ask the hospital for the cash-discount price in writing.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does emergent insertion of breathing tube into windpipe using an endoscope cost in Iowa?
- Cash prices for emergent insertion of breathing tube into windpipe using an endoscope (CPT 31500) in Iowa range from $25.20 to $1,591, with a median of $347. Prices vary widely by hospital.
- Where can I find the cheapest emergent insertion of breathing tube into windpipe using an endoscope in Iowa?
- The cheapest Iowa hospital published cash price for this procedure is $25.20. Use the table above sorted by cash price to find the lowest-priced facility near you.
- Are these the prices I'll pay?
- These are the rates hospitals publish. Final price depends on your insurance, deductible, and the specific services billed. Always confirm with the facility and your insurer before any procedure.
- Why do prices vary so much between hospitals?
- Hospitals set cash prices independently, and insurance contracts negotiate different rates per payer. Two facilities a few miles apart can charge 5-10x different prices for the same procedure.
- Where does this data come from?
- Federal law (45 CFR § 180) requires hospitals to publish their pricing in a machine-readable file. We aggregate these files and republish in a consumer-friendly format.
Emergent insertion of breathing tube into windpipe using an endoscope in nearby states
Other procedures in Iowa
Methodology. Cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates published by each Iowa facility under federal price transparency rules (45 CFR § 180). CPT code 31500 (Heart & Vascular). Data refreshed regularly; verify with the facility before any procedure.