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CPT code 31570: Vocal fold injection, direct, without optical magnification2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports direct laryngoscopy with therapeutic injection into one or both vocal folds, such as botulinum toxin treatment for spasmodic dysphonia.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality830 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $388.78 for 31570 in the office and $214.48 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$388.78Office (non-facility)
$214.48Hospital or facility
+12.9%vs the national office rate ($344.36)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31570 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 31570 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 31570 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 31570 covers

An otolaryngologist performs direct laryngoscopy and injects a therapeutic agent into one or both vocal folds. A typical use is botulinum toxin treatment for spasmodic dysphonia. The code describes the direct approach without an operating microscope or telescope, unlike 31571, and is commonly furnished in an operative setting.

Select 31570 when documentation supports direct laryngeal access and therapeutic injection, rather than flexible-scope injection, lesion treatment, or a diagnostic-only examination. Document the indication, target vocal fold or folds, injected agent, approach, and therapeutic purpose. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. The descriptor covers vocal cord(s), so a bilateral adjustment is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 31570

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31570 runs from $306.62 in Arkansas to $436.72 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $388.78. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31570 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$388.78
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$379.15−$9.63
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$383.15−$5.63
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$372.19−$16.59
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$396.34+$7.56
  6. Alaska · Alaska$411.08+$22.30
  7. Alabama · Alabama$310.82−$77.96

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

31570 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$306.62$179.52
ArizonaArizona$335.32$191.94
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$357.99$195.82
Chico, CACalifornia$356.28$194.11
El Centro, CACalifornia$356.38$194.21
Fresno, CACalifornia$356.28$194.11
Hanford, CACalifornia$356.28$194.11
Madera, CACalifornia$356.28$194.11

31570 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.

$306.62

$411.08

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

View every state and territory as a table
31570 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$411.081
AL$310.821
AR$306.621
AZ$335.321
CA$356.28–$436.7229
CO$354.201
CT$366.391
DC$388.781
DE$340.581
FL$345.70–$383.153
GA$326.75–$351.952
GU$363.151
HI$363.151
IA$315.391
ID$317.901
IL$338.36–$372.194
IN$319.551
KS$315.341
KY$320.601
LA$320.67–$335.362
MA$352.84–$385.862
MD$346.36–$388.783
ME$320.89–$335.182
MI$329.66–$351.162
MN$336.021
MO$316.42–$334.863
MS$311.511
MT$344.321
NC$323.811
ND$332.461
NE$316.601
NH$350.011
NJ$369.61–$385.442
NM$331.901
NV$341.221
NY$328.47–$407.145
OH$327.231
OK$318.631
OR$337.62–$363.302
PA$326.96–$358.642
PR$346.251
RI$351.141
SC$326.251
SD$331.061
TN$317.001
TX$325.05–$353.868
UT$330.401
VA$335.09–$388.782
VI$346.251
VT$332.481
WA$351.74–$392.092
WI$322.151
WV$326.971
WY$339.151

See 31570 in every payment locality

How the 31570 rate is calculated

Each of 31570’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 · 31570

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.76

3.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.95

5.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.60

0.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

10.3100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$344.36

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,603

Code
31570
Physician work
3.76
Practice expense
5.95
Malpractice
0.60

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 31570 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.76× 1.0543.9630
Practice expense5.95× 1.1787.0091
Malpractice0.60× 1.1130.6678
Total RVUs11.6399
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$388.78

Office: (3.76 × 1.054 + 5.95 × 1.178 + 0.6 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $388.78

Facility: (3.76 × 1.054 + 1.52 × 1.178 + 0.6 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $214.48

Open 31570 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31570

The CMS indicators that decide how 31570 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31570

Vocal fold injection, direct, without optical magnification

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

31570 without 51 · national office

$344.36

Vocal fold injection, direct, without optical magnification

31570-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$172.18

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 31570

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

Codes related to 31570
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
31571Vocal fold injection, microscope or telescopeDirect laryngoscopy injection with an operating microscope or telescope.No office rate
Used instead
31573Laryngoscopy, therapeutic injectionFlexible laryngoscopy with therapeutic injection, including specified unilateral treatment.$327.78
31574Vocal fold injection, flexible scope, unilateralFlexible laryngoscopy with injection for vocal-fold augmentation.$1,051.75

How 31570 has changed in Washington, DC area

31570 · Office / nonfacility

$388.78

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $10.13 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $378.65 to $388.78 (2.7%).

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

    $378.65changed to$388.78

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.86 changed to 3.76
    • Practice expense RVU 5.80 changed to 5.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.61 changed to 0.60
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $392.44changed to$378.65

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.87 changed to 5.80

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $386.04changed to$392.44

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $403.82changed to$386.04

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.86 changed to 5.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.59 changed to 0.61
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $413.61changed to$403.82

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.75 changed to 5.86
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.59
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $411.39changed to$413.61

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.64 changed to 5.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.58 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $403.72changed to$411.39

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 5.26 changed to 5.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.58
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $397.14changed to$403.72

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 5.18 changed to 5.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.59 changed to 0.56
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $391.93changed to$397.14

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 5.07 changed to 5.18

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $396.56changed to$391.93

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 5.18 changed to 5.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.59
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $401.41changed to$396.56

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 5.30 changed to 5.18
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $401.62changed to$401.41

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 5.25 changed to 5.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.62 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $399.62changed to$401.62

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $398.00changed to$399.62

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 5.36 changed to 5.25
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.62
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $399.84changed to$398.00

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 5.93 changed to 5.36
    • Malpractice RVU 0.53 changed to 0.51
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $399.84

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$388.78$214.48RVU26D
2026-07-01$388.78$214.48RVU26C
2026-04-01$388.78$214.48RVU26B
2026-01-01$388.78$214.48RVU26A
2025-10-01$378.65$247.56RVU25D
2025-07-01$378.65$247.56RVU25C
2025-04-01$378.65$247.56RVU25B
2025-01-01$378.65$247.56RVU25A
2024-10-01$392.44$253.17RVU24D
2024-07-01$392.44$253.17RVU24C
2024-04-01$392.44$253.17RVU24B
2024-03-09$392.44$253.17RVU24AR
2024-01-01$386.04$249.04RVU24A
2023-10-01$403.82$259.42RVU23D
2023-07-01$403.82$259.42RVU23C
2023-04-01$403.82$259.42RVU23B
2023-01-01$403.82$259.42RVU23A
2022-10-01$413.61$264.33RVU22D
2022-07-01$413.61$264.33RVU22C
2022-04-01$413.61$264.33RVU22B
2022-01-01$413.61$264.33RVU22A
2021-10-01$411.39$262.17RVU21D
2021-07-01$411.39$262.17RVU21C
2021-04-01$411.39$262.17RVU21B
2021-01-01$411.39$262.17RVU21A
2020-10-01$403.72$264.92RVU20D
2020-07-01$403.72$264.92RVU20C
2020-04-01$403.72$264.92RVU20B
2020-01-01$403.72$264.92RVU20A
2019-10-01$397.14$263.81RVU19D
2019-07-01$397.14$263.81RVU19C
2019-04-01$397.14$263.81RVU19B
2019-01-01$397.14$263.81RVU19A
2018-10-01$391.93$263.09RVU18D
2018-07-01$391.93$263.09RVU18C
2018-04-01$391.93$263.09RVU18B
2018-01-01$391.93$263.09RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$396.56$265.96RVU17D
2017-07-01$396.56$265.96RVU17C
2017-04-01$396.56$265.96RVU17B
2017-01-01$396.56$265.96RVU17A
2016-10-01$401.41$268.53RVU16D
2016-07-01$401.41$268.53RVU16C
2016-04-01$401.41$268.53RVU16B
2016-01-01$401.41$268.53RVU16A
2015-10-01$401.62$269.55RVU15D
2015-07-01$401.62$269.55RVU15C
2015-04-01$399.62$268.21RVU15B
2015-01-01$399.62$268.21RVU15A
2014-10-01$398.00$264.95RVU14D
2014-07-01$398.00$264.95RVU14C
2014-04-01$398.00$264.95RVU14B
2014-01-01$398.00$264.95RVU14A
2013-10-01$399.84$258.41RVU13D
2013-07-01$399.84$258.41RVU13C
2013-04-01$399.84$258.41RVU13B
2013-01-01$399.84$258.41RVU13AR

Price 31570 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

31570 billing questions

How does 31570 differ from 31571?

Both describe direct laryngoscopy with therapeutic vocal-fold injection. Use 31571 when the procedure includes an operating microscope or telescope.

When is 31573 or 31574 a better fit?

Those codes describe flexible laryngoscopy with injection. 31573 covers therapeutic injection, including specified unilateral treatment; 31574 is for injection for vocal-fold augmentation.

Can 31570 be reported for injections into both vocal folds?

The descriptor covers injection into vocal cord(s). Do not apply a bilateral adjustment or modifier 50.

Can diagnostic laryngoscopy be billed separately with 31570?

The laryngoscopy used to perform the injection is part of the service. A separate diagnostic laryngoscopy should not represent that same procedural work.

What documentation supports 31570?

Document the therapeutic indication, direct approach, vocal fold target or targets, injected agent, and purpose of the injection.

How does payment work when related endoscopies are performed together?

CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. The service has a 0-day global period, and assistant-at-surgery, co-surgeon, and team-surgery billing are not permitted.

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 31570PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,603 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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