CPT code 31572: Laser laryngoscopy, flexible scope, lesion destruction2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Michigan
Flexible laryngoscopic laser ablation treats visible laryngeal lesions, often recurrent vocal fold papillomas, when the clinician destroys tissue through an endoscope rather than excising it.
Medicare pays $478.80–$507.57 for 31572 in the office in Michigan, from Rest of Michigan to Detroit, MI. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 31572 covers
An otolaryngologist advances a flexible endoscope to view the larynx and directs laser energy to ablate a lesion rather than remove it as an excisional specimen. A common setting is office-based treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis affecting the vocal folds; selected laryngeal lesions may also be treated this way. The procedure differs from diagnostic flexible examination, tissue biopsy, injection, or non-laser lesion removal.
Report 31572 for the flexible endoscopic laser treatment, with the operative note identifying the lesion and site, the laser destruction performed, and any treated side. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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 31572 pays more and less in Michigan
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $507.57 | $163.34 |
| Rest of Michigan | $478.80 | $153.11 |
How the 31572 rate is calculated
Each of 31572’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 · 31572
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.93
2.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense11.96
11.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.43
0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
15.3200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$511.70
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31572
The CMS indicators that decide how 31572 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 31572
Laser laryngoscopy, flexible scope, lesion destruction
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
31572 without 50 · national office
$511.70
Laser laryngoscopy, flexible scope, lesion destruction
31572-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$767.55
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
31572 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 31578LaryngoscopyFlexible scope, lesion removal
- 31572 uses laser energy to destroy a lesion through a flexible scope. 31578 is for flexible-scope lesion removal without laser destruction.
- 31576Laryngeal biopsyFlexible endoscopic approach
- 31576 is selected when a flexible-scope biopsy obtains tissue for examination. Choose 31572 when the documented treatment is laser destruction of the lesion.
- 31573LaryngoscopyTherapeutic injection
- 31573 covers therapeutic injection through a flexible scope. It is not the laser ablation service described by 31572.
- 31574Vocal fold injectionFlexible scope, unilateral
- 31574 describes flexible-scope injection to augment vocal fold bulk. 31572 treats a lesion with laser energy.
31572 billing questions
How is 31572 different from flexible laryngoscopy with lesion removal?
Use 31572 when laser energy destroys the lesion through a flexible scope. Code 31578 describes flexible-scope lesion removal by a non-laser approach.
Can a diagnostic flexible laryngoscopy be reported with 31572?
The flexible visualization used to locate and treat the lesion is part of the laser service. If related endoscopies are performed together, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies.
How should bilateral laser treatment be reported?
Report modifier 50 for bilateral treatment; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What documentation supports 31572?
Document the lesion and laryngeal site, flexible endoscopic approach, laser destruction performed, and laterality when applicable.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery 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
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