CPT code 31526: Diagnostic laryngoscopy, operating microscope or telescope2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $135.27 for 31526 nationally in a facility.

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

What 31526 covers

An otolaryngologist passes a laryngoscope through the mouth to examine the larynx directly, using an operating microscope or telescope for magnified visualization. The examination may help evaluate persistent hoarseness, a suspected vocal fold abnormality, or another laryngeal finding. It is commonly performed in an operating room, often under general anesthesia, when an office examination cannot provide the needed view or assessment.

Report 31526 when the service is diagnostic and the documented technique uses the operating microscope or telescope. Documentation should identify the reason for the examination, the structures assessed, and the findings. When tissue sampling or treatment is performed, select the applicable operative laryngoscopy code rather than reporting this diagnostic service separately. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and 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 31526 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

31526 rates by state

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

How the 31526 rate is calculated

Each of 31526’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 31526

The CMS indicators that decide how 31526 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

31526 compared with similar codes

How to choose

31525LaryngoscopyDiagnostic, except newborn

31525 is direct diagnostic laryngoscopy without the specific operating microscope or telescope technique. Choose 31526 when that optical technique is documented.

31536Laryngeal biopsyWith operating scope

31536 includes biopsy during direct laryngoscopy with an operating microscope or telescope. Use it when tissue is sampled rather than reporting a diagnostic-only examination.

31535Laryngeal biopsyDirect operative approach

31535 describes direct laryngoscopy with biopsy without the specified microscope-or-telescope technique. 31526 is diagnostic-only and requires that technique.

31520LaryngoscopyDiagnostic, newborn

31520 is the direct diagnostic laryngoscopy code for a newborn; 31526 is not the newborn-specific code.

Codes related to 31526

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates