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CPT code 31511: Laryngeal FB removal, indirect laryngoscopy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Colorado

Removal of a foreign object from the larynx under indirect laryngoscopic visualization when the clinician can reach and extract it without direct operative laryngoscopy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality24 Medicare services in 2024

In Colorado, Medicare pays $217.75 for 31511 in the office and $117.53 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$217.75Office (non-facility)
$117.53Hospital or facility
+3.3%vs the national office rate ($210.76)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31511 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 31511 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Colorado
  2. What 31511 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 31511 covers

An otolaryngologist uses indirect laryngoscopic visualization to locate and remove a foreign object lodged in the larynx. The code fits an extraction performed through this indirect approach, rather than removal during direct operative laryngoscopy. It is a focused therapeutic service, not a diagnostic-only examination. Medicare claims for this service in 2024 were reported in facility settings.

Document the laryngeal location of the object, the indirect visualization approach, and the extraction performed. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS endoscopy family pricing applies. A bilateral adjustment is not appropriate. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeons and team surgery 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.

How Colorado compares for 31511

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31511 runs from $187.53 in Arkansas to $271.44 in San Benito County, CA. Colorado pays $217.75. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31511 in Colorado vs other payment areas
  1. Colorado · this page$217.75
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$234.12+$16.37
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$238.88+$21.13
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$231.42+$13.67
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$224.88+$7.13
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$242.24+$24.49
  7. Alaska · Alaska$249.97+$32.22

Other areas in Colorado first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

31511 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$190.13$107.71
ArkansasArkansas$187.53$106.62
ArizonaArizona$205.28$114.01
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$220.69$117.45
Chico, CACalifornia$219.81$116.58
El Centro, CACalifornia$219.86$116.63
Fresno, CACalifornia$219.81$116.58
Hanford, CACalifornia$219.81$116.58

31511 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$187.53

$249.97

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
31511 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$249.971
AL$190.131
AR$187.531
AZ$205.281
CA$219.81–$271.4429
CO$217.751
CT$224.301
DC$238.881
DE$208.541
FL$210.07–$231.423
GA$198.62–$215.072
GU$224.391
HI$224.391
IA$193.651
ID$195.061
IL$205.07–$224.884
IN$196.101
KS$193.281
KY$195.451
LA$195.36–$204.442
MA$216.76–$237.822
MD$212.21–$238.883
ME$196.55–$205.892
MI$200.72–$213.072
MN$207.481
MO$192.52–$204.533
MS$190.041
MT$210.741
NC$198.411
ND$204.811
NE$194.501
NH$214.851
NJ$226.53–$236.722
NM$201.961
NV$209.221
NY$201.27–$248.485
OH$199.511
OK$194.591
OR$207.26–$223.782
PA$199.53–$219.302
PR$212.041
RI$215.321
SC$199.361
SD$204.111
TN$194.271
TX$198.32–$217.318
UT$201.921
VA$205.60–$238.882
VI$212.041
VT$204.511
WA$216.18–$242.022
WI$198.351
WV$198.011
WY$208.151

See 31511 in every payment locality

How the 31511 rate is calculated

Each of 31511’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 · 31511

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.11

2.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.90

3.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.30

0.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.3100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$210.76

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Colorado inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,578

Code
31511
Physician work
2.11
Practice expense
3.90
Malpractice
0.30

GPCI2026.csv

37

Locality
Colorado
Physician work
1.012
Practice expense
1.064
Malpractice
0.781
Office calculation for 31511 in Colorado
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.11× 1.0122.1353
Practice expense3.90× 1.0644.1496
Malpractice0.30× 0.7810.2343
Total RVUs6.5192
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Colorado$217.75

Office: (2.11 × 1.012 + 3.9 × 1.064 + 0.3 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $217.75

Facility: (2.11 × 1.012 + 1.08 × 1.064 + 0.3 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $117.53

Open 31511 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31511

The CMS indicators that decide how 31511 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31511

Laryngeal FB removal, indirect laryngoscopy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

31511 without 51 · national office

$210.76

Laryngeal FB removal, indirect laryngoscopy

31511-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$105.38

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 31511

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 31511
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Colorado
Used instead
31530Laryngoscopy, foreign body removalForeign body removal using direct laryngoscopy rather than the indirect approach.No office rate
31531Foreign body removal, with operating scopeDirect laryngoscopic foreign body removal with an operating microscope.No office rate
31505Laryngoscopy, indirect, diagnosticIndirect laryngoscopy for diagnostic examination when no foreign body is removed.$92.49
Same family
31512Laryngeal lesion removal, indirect laryngoscopyIndirect laryngoscopic removal of a lesion rather than a foreign object.$224.40

How 31511 has changed in Colorado

31511 · Office / nonfacility

$217.75

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $9.53 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $208.22 to $217.75 (4.6%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $208.22changed to$217.75

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.16 changed to 2.11
    • Practice expense RVU 3.81 changed to 3.90
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.053 changed to 1.064
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.827 changed to 0.781

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $216.94changed to$208.22

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.87 changed to 3.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.30

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $213.39changed to$216.94

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $219.72changed to$213.39

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.88 changed to 3.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.32
    • Work GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.053
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.797 changed to 0.827

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $223.08changed to$219.72

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 3.85 changed to 3.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.30
    • Work GPCI 1.001 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.050
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.767 changed to 0.797

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $222.47changed to$223.08

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.79 changed to 3.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.33

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $221.12changed to$222.47

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.56 changed to 3.79
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.001
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.047
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.905 changed to 0.767

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $219.37changed to$221.12

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 3.53 changed to 3.56
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.018 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.042 changed to 0.905

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $217.28changed to$219.37

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.50 changed to 3.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.32

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $218.70changed to$217.28

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 3.55 changed to 3.50
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.015 changed to 1.018
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.066 changed to 1.042

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $219.78changed to$218.70

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 3.59 changed to 3.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.015
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.090 changed to 1.066

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $219.51changed to$219.78

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 3.55 changed to 3.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.32

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $218.42changed to$219.51

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $215.39changed to$218.42

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.53 changed to 3.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.011
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.981 changed to 1.090

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $222.06changed to$215.39

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.08 changed to 3.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.008
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.872 changed to 0.981

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $222.06

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$217.75$117.53RVU26D
2026-07-01$217.75$117.53RVU26C
2026-04-01$217.75$117.53RVU26B
2026-01-01$217.75$117.53RVU26A
2025-10-01$208.22$131.93RVU25D
2025-07-01$208.22$131.93RVU25C
2025-04-01$208.22$131.93RVU25B
2025-01-01$208.22$131.93RVU25A
2024-10-01$216.94$135.62RVU24D
2024-07-01$216.94$135.62RVU24C
2024-04-01$216.94$135.62RVU24B
2024-03-09$216.94$135.62RVU24AR
2024-01-01$213.39$133.40RVU24A
2023-10-01$219.72$136.10RVU23D
2023-07-01$219.72$136.10RVU23C
2023-04-01$219.72$136.10RVU23B
2023-01-01$219.72$136.10RVU23A
2022-10-01$223.08$133.95RVU22D
2022-07-01$223.08$133.95RVU22C
2022-04-01$223.08$133.95RVU22B
2022-01-01$223.08$133.95RVU22A
2021-10-01$222.47$133.69RVU21D
2021-07-01$222.47$133.69RVU21C
2021-04-01$222.47$133.69RVU21B
2021-01-01$222.47$133.69RVU21A
2020-10-01$221.12$137.24RVU20D
2020-07-01$221.12$137.24RVU20C
2020-04-01$221.12$137.24RVU20B
2020-01-01$221.12$137.24RVU20A
2019-10-01$219.37$137.56RVU19D
2019-07-01$219.37$137.56RVU19C
2019-04-01$219.37$137.56RVU19B
2019-01-01$219.37$137.56RVU19A
2018-10-01$217.28$135.56RVU18D
2018-07-01$217.28$135.56RVU18C
2018-04-01$217.28$135.56RVU18B
2018-01-01$217.28$135.56RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$218.70$135.28RVU17D
2017-07-01$218.70$135.28RVU17C
2017-04-01$218.70$135.28RVU17B
2017-01-01$218.70$135.28RVU17A
2016-10-01$219.78$136.16RVU16D
2016-07-01$219.78$136.16RVU16C
2016-04-01$219.78$136.16RVU16B
2016-01-01$219.78$136.16RVU16A
2015-10-01$219.51$135.95RVU15D
2015-07-01$219.51$135.95RVU15C
2015-04-01$218.42$135.28RVU15B
2015-01-01$218.42$135.28RVU15A
2014-10-01$215.39$134.50RVU14D
2014-07-01$215.39$134.50RVU14C
2014-04-01$215.39$134.50RVU14B
2014-01-01$215.39$134.50RVU14A
2013-10-01$222.06$130.51RVU13D
2013-07-01$222.06$130.51RVU13C
2013-04-01$222.06$130.51RVU13B
2013-01-01$222.06$130.51RVU13AR

Price 31511 for an earlier date of service

Where the Colorado rate applies

Colorado is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 485 cities and communities in Colorado. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Acres Green
  • Aetna Estates
  • Aguilar
  • Air Force Academy
  • Akron
  • Alamosa
  • Alamosa East
  • Allenspark

Browse all communities in Colorado

31511 billing questions

How does this differ from code 31530?

Code 31511 describes foreign body removal using indirect laryngoscopic visualization. Code 31530 is the direct laryngoscopy approach for removal.

When should code 31531 be considered instead?

Use 31531 when foreign body removal is performed by direct laryngoscopy with an operating microscope. The indirect approach is the distinguishing feature of 31511.

Can a diagnostic laryngoscopy be reported with the removal?

A separate diagnostic laryngoscopy is not established by the removal service alone. If related endoscopies are performed together, CMS endoscopy family pricing applies.

What documentation supports reporting 31511?

Record that a foreign object was present in the larynx, that the clinician used indirect laryngoscopic visualization, and that the object was removed.

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?

No bilateral adjustment applies, so modifier 50 is inappropriate. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code.

What does the 0-day global period include?

Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure payment.

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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 31511PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,578 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ColoradoGPCI2026.csv, line 37 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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