CPT code 31535: Laryngeal biopsy, direct operative approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $177.10 for 31535 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31535 nationwide

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

What 31535 covers

An otolaryngologist performs a direct operative examination of the larynx and takes a tissue sample from a lesion or abnormal area for diagnostic evaluation. The service is commonly performed in an operating room, often under anesthesia, when a lesion needs tissue diagnosis. Examples include sampling a suspicious vocal fold or other laryngeal lesion; the code reflects biopsy, not complete removal of the lesion.

Select this code when the operative service includes direct laryngoscopy and tissue sampling. The operative report should identify the laryngeal site, describe the lesion and approach, and document that tissue was obtained. CMS assigns a zero-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. Endoscopy-family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 Washington, DC area compares for 31535

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 31535 runs from $148.49 in Arkansas to $209.55 in Alaska. Washington, DC area pays $177.10. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

31535 rates by state

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

See 31535 in every payment locality

How the 31535 rate is calculated

Each of 31535’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 31535

The CMS indicators that decide how 31535 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 31535

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

How 31535 has changed in Washington, DC area

Price 31535 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

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