Exam to assess movement of vocal cord flaps using an endoscope
Medicare pricing data for 2,030 providers across 50 states
Prices vary significantly by location — from $108 in Vermont to $243 in Alaska. Where you get this procedure matters more than almost any other factor. Note: These costs reflect the Medicare physician/supplier component. Hospital facility fees are billed separately and can be 2-5x the physician fee.
💡 What You Should Know
Exam to assess movement of vocal cord flaps using an endoscope (HCPCS code 31579) is a medical procedure billed to Medicare. The average Medicare-allowed cost is $188.94, but hospitals typically charge $718.97 — a 3.8x markup. Prices vary significantly by state and provider.
🏷️ Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost
Medicare patients typically pay about 20% of the allowed amount as coinsurance. Based on the average allowed cost of $188.94, your out-of-pocket cost would be approximately $37.79. Actual costs depend on your specific plan, deductible, and whether you've met your annual out-of-pocket maximum.
What Hospitals Charge vs. What Medicare Pays
Hospitals charge 3.8x more than what Medicare allows for this procedure. Medicare actually pays $144.46 on average.
Cost by State
Medicare-allowed amounts vary significantly by state
| State | Allowed Cost | Hospital Charge | Providers | Services | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $243 | $1,325 | 2 | 27 | +28.4% |
| New York | $228 | $1,072 | 165 | 11,771 | +20.6% |
| New Jersey | $223 | $858 | 49 | 2,568 | +18.1% |
| Connecticut | $211 | $971 | 15 | 769 | +11.9% |
| District of Columbia | $204 | $961 | 9 | 678 | +8.2% |
| Rhode Island | $202 | $585 | 4 | 128 | +7.1% |
| Maryland | $201 | $634 | 61 | 4,503 | +6.3% |
| California | $200 | $747 | 235 | 13,844 | +6.0% |
| New Hampshire | $200 | $604 | 1 | 21 | +5.9% |
| Nevada | $198 | $526 | 8 | 986 | +4.6% |
| Minnesota | $194 | $1,001 | 37 | 871 | +2.7% |
| Delaware | $191 | $418 | 9 | 106 | +1.2% |
| Florida | $191 | $569 | 163 | 5,598 | +1.0% |
| Hawaii | $190 | $445 | 6 | 71 | +0.4% |
| New Mexico | $188 | $269 | 4 | 74 | -0.5% |
| South Dakota | $187 | $817 | 6 | 40 | -0.8% |
| Georgia | $187 | $689 | 74 | 1,564 | -0.8% |
| Texas | $187 | $670 | 129 | 7,598 | -1.0% |
| Illinois | $186 | $945 | 44 | 1,918 | -1.5% |
| West Virginia | $185 | $591 | 2 | 21 | -2.1% |
| Massachusetts | $181 | $739 | 79 | 3,081 | -4.1% |
| Tennessee | $181 | $631 | 24 | 523 | -4.3% |
| Arizona | $180 | $869 | 39 | 1,025 | -4.6% |
| Kentucky | $178 | $501 | 12 | 530 | -5.6% |
| Iowa | $178 | $529 | 24 | 694 | -5.9% |
| North Carolina | $177 | $550 | 69 | 2,501 | -6.2% |
| Missouri | $177 | $633 | 57 | 1,513 | -6.4% |
| Puerto Rico | $176 | $260 | 4 | 17 | -6.7% |
| Mississippi | $176 | $614 | 12 | 410 | -6.8% |
| Colorado | $176 | $571 | 34 | 1,751 | -7.1% |
| Kansas | $175 | $623 | 45 | 2,043 | -7.2% |
| Utah | $174 | $491 | 32 | 680 | -8.1% |
| Oklahoma | $172 | $409 | 12 | 194 | -9.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $172 | $507 | 143 | 5,830 | -9.1% |
| Indiana | $171 | $510 | 39 | 1,724 | -9.4% |
| Virginia | $170 | $508 | 22 | 982 | -10.1% |
| South Carolina | $162 | $959 | 36 | 1,643 | -14.1% |
| Washington | $158 | $500 | 31 | 1,606 | -16.6% |
| Wisconsin | $154 | $1,990 | 28 | 444 | -18.3% |
| Alabama | $152 | $661 | 44 | 777 | -19.4% |
| Montana | $151 | $329 | 8 | 110 | -20.1% |
| Arkansas | $149 | $464 | 12 | 519 | -20.9% |
| Ohio | $149 | $613 | 81 | 3,861 | -21.0% |
| Oregon | $148 | $510 | 15 | 294 | -21.5% |
| Nebraska | $143 | $602 | 7 | 203 | -24.4% |
| Michigan | $142 | $399 | 52 | 1,742 | -24.8% |
| Idaho | $136 | $211 | 6 | 59 | -27.8% |
| North Dakota | $116 | $340 | 3 | 11 | -38.5% |
| Louisiana | $114 | $482 | 17 | 560 | -39.6% |
| Vermont | $108 | $190 | 3 | 43 | -42.7% |
⚠️ Important: These costs reflect the Medicare physician/supplier component. Hospital facility fees may be billed separately. Total out-of-pocket costs may be higher.
💊 Need post-procedure medications? Check costs on OpenPrescriber