CPT code 31545: Vocal cord excision, with operating microscope or telescope2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $305.62 for 31545 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 31545 covers

An otolaryngologist performs this operative laryngoscopy to remove lesion(s) from a vocal fold while viewing the larynx through an operating microscope or telescope. Typical cases include microlaryngeal excision of a vocal fold polyp or cyst in a patient with persistent hoarseness. The service is commonly performed in an operating room, often in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center, rather than as an office examination.

Report the code when the documented service includes operative excision of vocal cord lesion(s) with the specified magnified endoscopic visualization. The operative report should identify the lesion and vocal fold site, describe the excision, and document use of the microscope or telescope; a biopsy-only service or destruction rather than excision points to a different code. Medicare assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies. For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, 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.

Where 31545 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

31545 rates by state

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

How the 31545 rate is calculated

Each of 31545’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 31545

The CMS indicators that decide how 31545 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

31545 compared with similar codes

How to choose

31535Laryngeal biopsyDirect operative approach

31535 is for obtaining a biopsy during operative laryngoscopy. Choose 31545 when the documented service removes the vocal fold lesion under magnified visualization.

31541Tumor excisionWith operating scope

31541 describes operative removal of a tumor or vocal cord stripping with an operating microscope or telescope. This code is specific to excision of vocal cord lesion(s).

31572Laser laryngoscopyFlexible scope, lesion destruction

31572 is for laser destruction of a laryngeal lesion. This code is for excision of vocal cord lesion(s), not destruction.

31546Vocal fold excisionMicroscope with graft

31546 is the related vocal cord lesion procedure involving reconstruction, such as grafting; 31545 describes excision without that reconstructive element.

Codes related to 31545

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