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CPT code 31520: Laryngoscopy, diagnostic, newborn2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports direct visualization of a newborn’s larynx for diagnostic evaluation, such as investigating stridor, a weak cry, or suspected laryngeal abnormality.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $134.94 for 31520 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 31520

Laryngoscopy, diagnostic, newborn

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
2.5
Total RVUs
4.04
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$134.94

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 31520 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 31520 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 31520 covers

An otolaryngologist typically performs this direct examination to evaluate a newborn’s larynx when symptoms such as stridor or a weak cry raise concern for an airway abnormality or impaired vocal-fold movement. The clinician uses a laryngoscope to inspect the laryngeal structures and document the findings. This is the diagnostic service; a biopsy or treatment changes the code selection when that service is performed.

Report the code for a diagnostic direct laryngoscopy on a newborn, supported by documentation of the patient, indication, examination performed, and findings. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.

Where 31520 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

31520 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$124.69
AlaskaUnavailable$173.68
ArizonaUnavailable$131.95
ArkansasUnavailable$123.44
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$138.30
Austin, TXUnavailable$135.96
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$135.45
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$142.06
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$130.55
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$132.54

31520 rates by state

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

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

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

View every state and territory as a table
31520 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 31520 rate is calculated

Each of 31520’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 · 31520

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.50

2.50 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.17

1.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.37

0.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.0400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$134.94

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 31520

The CMS indicators that decide how 31520 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31520

Laryngoscopy, diagnostic, newborn

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
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

31520 without 51 · national facility

$134.94

Laryngoscopy, diagnostic, newborn

31520-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$67.47

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

31520 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 31520

    Laryngoscopy, diagnostic, newborn2.5 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 31525

    Laryngoscopy, diagnostic, except newborn2.56 wRVU

    $251.17

  • 31526

    Diagnostic laryngoscopy, operating microscope or telescope2.51 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 31505

    Laryngoscopy, indirect, diagnostic0.59 wRVU

    $88.51

  • 31535

    Laryngeal biopsy, direct operative approach3.08 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

31525LaryngoscopyDiagnostic, except newborn
Use 31520 for diagnostic direct laryngoscopy in a newborn; 31525 is the corresponding diagnostic direct examination for patients other than newborns.
31526Diagnostic laryngoscopyOperating microscope or telescope
31526 describes diagnostic direct laryngoscopy with an operating scope. Select it when that scope technique is documented rather than the newborn diagnostic service represented by 31520.
31505LaryngoscopyIndirect, diagnostic
31505 is diagnostic indirect laryngoscopy. Code 31520 describes direct examination of a newborn’s larynx.
31535Laryngeal biopsyDirect operative approach
31535 is used when direct laryngoscopy includes biopsy. Use 31520 for diagnostic examination without that tissue-sampling service.

Codes related to 31520

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

Codes related to 31520
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
31525Laryngoscopy, diagnostic, except newbornDiagnostic direct laryngoscopy for patients other than newborns.$223.45–$322.31
Used instead
31526Diagnostic laryngoscopy, operating microscope or telescopeDiagnostic direct laryngoscopy using an operating scope.No office rate
31505Laryngoscopy, indirect, diagnosticDiagnostic indirect laryngoscopy rather than direct examination.$78.01–$118.97
31535Laryngeal biopsy, direct operative approachDirect laryngoscopy with biopsy when tissue is sampled.No office rate

31520 billing questions

How does this differ from 31525?

31520 is the diagnostic direct laryngoscopy code for a newborn. Code 31525 is for diagnostic direct laryngoscopy in a patient who is not a newborn.

Should I report this when the laryngoscopy includes a biopsy?

Choose the code that describes the biopsy service when tissue is sampled, rather than reporting a diagnostic-only examination. The operative report should identify the tissue sampling and procedure performed.

What documentation supports 31520?

Document that the patient is a newborn, the reason for examining the larynx, the direct examination performed, and the findings. The record should make clear that the service was diagnostic.

Is same-day postoperative care separately payable?

No. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this procedure?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when the record documents medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?

When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the remaining procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.

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 31520PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,582 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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