CPT code 31241: Artery ligation, endoscopic epistaxis control2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports endoscopic ligation of the sphenopalatine artery to control significant posterior nasal bleeding, typically when less invasive measures have not controlled epistaxis.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 31241 in Florida.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 31241 covers
An otolaryngologist uses a nasal endoscope to reach and ligate the sphenopalatine artery for surgical control of posterior epistaxis. The procedure is commonly performed in a facility operating room when bleeding has persisted or recurred despite measures such as packing or cautery. The operative report should identify the endoscopic approach, the artery ligated, the side treated, and the indication for definitive surgical control.
Report this code for the endoscopic artery-ligation service, not for diagnostic inspection alone or packing alone. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery payment are not permitted.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 31241 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $434.36 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $388.96 |
How the 31241 rate is calculated
Each of 31241’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 31241
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.80
7.80 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.23
2.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.14
1.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
11.1700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$373.09
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31241
The CMS indicators that decide how 31241 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 31241
Artery ligation, endoscopic epistaxis control
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
31241 without 50 · national facility
$373.09
Artery ligation, endoscopic epistaxis control
31241-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$559.63
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
31241 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 31238Nasal endoscopyHemorrhage control
- Use 31241 when the surgeon ligates the sphenopalatine artery endoscopically. Code 31238 describes endoscopic control of nasal hemorrhage without specifying that artery ligation.
- 30905Nosebleed controlPosterior, initial treatment
- Code 30905 is for initial posterior nasal hemorrhage control with packing or cautery. Code 31241 describes endoscopic surgical ligation of the sphenopalatine artery.
- 31231Nasal endoscopyDiagnostic, without sinusoscopy
- Code 31231 is diagnostic nasal endoscopy. It does not describe the endoscopic surgical ligation used to control posterior epistaxis under 31241.
31241 billing questions
How does this differ from 31238?
31241 identifies endoscopic ligation of the sphenopalatine artery. Use 31238 for endoscopic control of nasal hemorrhage when the documented procedure is not this specified artery ligation.
Can nasal packing be reported with this procedure?
Packing alone is not the artery-ligation service described by 31241. The operative documentation should establish that the sphenopalatine artery was ligated endoscopically.
How should bilateral ligation be reported?
For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Is an assistant surgeon payable?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when the record documents medical necessity. CMS does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery payment for this code.
What is included in the global period?
The code has a 0-day global period. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
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