CPT code 31577: Laryngoscopy, foreign body removal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Direct operative laryngoscopy removes a foreign object lodged in the larynx when visualization and instrument retrieval are needed beyond an office examination.
Medicare pays $278.90 for 31577 nationally in the office and $118.91 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $245.74–$368.15.
Medicare rate · 31577
Laryngoscopy, foreign body removal
- Work RVUs
- 2.14
- Total RVUs
- 8.35
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$278.90
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 31577 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
Your location
On this page 10 sections
What 31577 covers
An otolaryngologist typically performs this operative procedure by passing a laryngoscope through the mouth to visualize the larynx and retrieve a lodged object with instruments. It is commonly performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting, often under anesthesia. The target is a foreign body in the larynx, rather than a lesion being excised or a specimen being taken for biopsy.
Report the procedure when the operative note identifies the laryngeal foreign body and documents its removal. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted under the CMS rules for this code.
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 31577 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$245.74 to $368.15
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $249.46 | $109.47 |
| Alaska | $322.28 | $151.89 |
| Arizona | $271.18 | $116.15 |
| Arkansas | $245.74 | $108.31 |
| Atlanta, GA | $284.53 | $121.98 |
| Austin, TX | $289.12 | $119.85 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $294.64 | $119.29 |
| Baltimore area, MD | $297.05 | $125.38 |
| Beaumont, TX | $260.45 | $114.85 |
| Brazoria, TX | $275.21 | $116.66 |
| Chicago, IL | $295.08 | $134.29 |
| Chico, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Colorado | $289.82 | $119.59 |
| Connecticut | $297.81 | $125.50 |
| Dallas, TX | $277.14 | $117.79 |
| Delaware | $275.76 | $117.68 |
| Detroit, MI | $279.83 | $125.44 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $274.73 | $127.54 |
| El Centro, CA | $293.72 | $118.37 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $290.62 | $128.55 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $275.33 | $117.58 |
| Fresno, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Galveston, TX | $276.14 | $117.27 |
| Hanford, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $300.98 | $119.07 |
| Houston, TX | $282.37 | $123.50 |
| Idaho | $257.23 | $110.04 |
| Indiana | $258.75 | $110.44 |
| Iowa | $255.38 | $108.99 |
| Kansas | $254.44 | $109.81 |
| Kentucky | $256.17 | $113.94 |
| King County, WA | $324.90 | $128.59 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $313.89 | $124.62 |
| Madera, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Manhattan, NY | $321.89 | $135.98 |
| Marin County, CA | $359.93 | $134.34 |
| Merced, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $318.62 | $127.59 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $266.68 | $116.45 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $290.41 | $123.86 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $269.51 | $117.20 |
| Miami, FL | $304.30 | $137.75 |
| Minnesota | $276.59 | $111.96 |
| Mississippi | $248.68 | $110.93 |
| Modesto, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Montana | $278.87 | $118.88 |
| Napa, CA | $340.16 | $129.29 |
| Nebraska | $256.74 | $109.07 |
| Nevada | $277.20 | $117.05 |
| New Hampshire | $285.52 | $118.97 |
| New Mexico | $264.91 | $118.20 |
| New Orleans, LA | $268.87 | $118.32 |
| North Carolina | $261.66 | $112.39 |
| North Dakota | $272.15 | $112.16 |
| Northern New Jersey | $315.54 | $129.95 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $330.26 | $140.03 |
| Ohio | $261.93 | $115.86 |
| Oklahoma | $255.39 | $112.51 |
| Oxnard, CA | $312.30 | $123.19 |
| Portland, OR | $298.90 | $121.15 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $303.12 | $127.94 |
| Puerto Rico | $280.88 | $119.13 |
| Queens, NY | $324.18 | $135.07 |
| Redding, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Rest of California | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Rest of Florida | $275.98 | $123.03 |
| Rest of Georgia | $259.90 | $117.19 |
| Rest of Illinois | $268.23 | $122.16 |
| Rest of Louisiana | $255.87 | $114.28 |
| Rest of Maine | $258.92 | $111.73 |
| Rest of Maryland | $281.03 | $119.12 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $288.13 | $119.66 |
| Rest of Michigan | $263.30 | $117.23 |
| Rest of Missouri | $251.55 | $113.63 |
| Rest of New Jersey | $300.90 | $126.19 |
| Rest of New York | $265.72 | $113.73 |
| Rest of Oregon | $274.74 | $115.39 |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $262.20 | $115.32 |
| Rest of Texas | $267.80 | $115.97 |
| Rest of Washington | $287.50 | $119.03 |
| Rhode Island | $285.50 | $120.23 |
| Riverside, CA | $297.34 | $121.99 |
| Sacramento, CA | $308.16 | $122.09 |
| Salinas, CA | $307.02 | $121.59 |
| San Benito County, CA | $368.15 | $137.44 |
| San Diego, CA | $314.27 | $122.92 |
| San Francisco, CA | $359.54 | $133.96 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $302.10 | $119.87 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $366.57 | $135.87 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $317.28 | $122.89 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $308.18 | $121.63 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $320.47 | $124.01 |
| South Carolina | $262.29 | $114.46 |
| South Dakota | $271.36 | $111.37 |
| Southern Maine, ME | $272.94 | $114.39 |
| Stockton, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $293.46 | $129.15 |
| Tennessee | $255.80 | $110.37 |
| Utah | $265.98 | $115.58 |
| Vallejo, CA | $339.60 | $128.74 |
| Vermont | $271.33 | $112.94 |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $280.88 | $119.13 |
| Virginia | $272.23 | $114.96 |
| Visalia, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
| Washington, DC area | $318.94 | $130.47 |
| West Virginia | $258.11 | $119.08 |
| Wisconsin | $262.80 | $109.53 |
| Wyoming | $275.94 | $115.95 |
| Yuba City, CA | $293.67 | $118.32 |
31577 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$245.74
$330.91
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $322.28 | 1 |
| AL | $249.46 | 1 |
| AR | $245.74 | 1 |
| AZ | $271.18 | 1 |
| CA | $293.67–$368.15 | 29 |
| CO | $289.82 | 1 |
| CT | $297.81 | 1 |
| DC | $318.94 | 1 |
| DE | $275.76 | 1 |
| FL | $275.98–$304.30 | 3 |
| GA | $259.90–$284.53 | 2 |
| GU | $300.98 | 1 |
| HI | $300.98 | 1 |
| IA | $255.38 | 1 |
| ID | $257.23 | 1 |
| IL | $268.23–$295.08 | 4 |
| IN | $258.75 | 1 |
| KS | $254.44 | 1 |
| KY | $256.17 | 1 |
| LA | $255.87–$268.87 | 2 |
| MA | $288.13–$318.62 | 2 |
| MD | $281.03–$318.94 | 3 |
| ME | $258.92–$272.94 | 2 |
| MI | $263.30–$279.83 | 2 |
| MN | $276.59 | 1 |
| MO | $251.55–$269.51 | 3 |
| MS | $248.68 | 1 |
| MT | $278.87 | 1 |
| NC | $261.66 | 1 |
| ND | $272.15 | 1 |
| NE | $256.74 | 1 |
| NH | $285.52 | 1 |
| NJ | $300.90–$315.54 | 2 |
| NM | $264.91 | 1 |
| NV | $277.20 | 1 |
| NY | $265.72–$330.26 | 5 |
| OH | $261.93 | 1 |
| OK | $255.39 | 1 |
| OR | $274.74–$298.90 | 2 |
| PA | $262.20–$290.41 | 2 |
| PR | $280.88 | 1 |
| RI | $285.50 | 1 |
| SC | $262.29 | 1 |
| SD | $271.36 | 1 |
| TN | $255.80 | 1 |
| TX | $260.45–$289.12 | 8 |
| UT | $265.98 | 1 |
| VA | $272.23–$318.94 | 2 |
| VI | $280.88 | 1 |
| VT | $271.33 | 1 |
| WA | $287.50–$324.90 | 2 |
| WI | $262.80 | 1 |
| WV | $258.11 | 1 |
| WY | $275.94 | 1 |
How the 31577 rate is calculated
Each of 31577’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 · 31577
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.14
2.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.87
5.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.34
0.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
8.3500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$278.90
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31577
The CMS indicators that decide how 31577 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 31577
Laryngoscopy, foreign body removal
| 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) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| 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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
31577 without 51 · national office
$278.90
Laryngoscopy, foreign body removal
31577-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$139.45
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%).
31577 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 31575LaryngoscopyFlexible, diagnostic
- 31575 is for diagnostic laryngoscopy. Choose 31577 when the operative service includes retrieval of a foreign body from the larynx.
- 31576Laryngeal biopsyFlexible endoscopic approach
- 31576 involves obtaining a biopsy during laryngoscopy. 31577 is for removing a foreign object, not sampling tissue.
- 31578LaryngoscopyFlexible scope, lesion removal
- 31578 is used for operative removal of a laryngeal lesion; 31577 is for a foreign body.
- 31635BronchoscopyForeign body removal
- 31635 covers bronchoscopic foreign body removal in the bronchial airway. Use 31577 when the removed object is in the larynx.
31577 billing questions
How is this different from diagnostic laryngoscopy?
Use 31577 when the laryngoscopy is operative and a foreign body is removed. A diagnostic examination without removal is represented by 31575.
When should 31578 be considered instead?
31578 describes operative removal of a laryngeal lesion. Use 31577 for removal of a foreign object, not excision of a lesion.
Can a biopsy be reported as 31577?
No. When tissue is sampled for diagnostic examination rather than a foreign body being removed, consider 31576.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral work?
No. CMS identifies modifier 50 as inappropriate for this code because of its descriptor or anatomy.
What documentation supports reporting 31577?
Document the foreign body's laryngeal location, the operative visualization, and the retrieval performed. If an assistant-at-surgery claim is submitted, document medical necessity.
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
Fee sheets
Put 31577 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Build my fee sheet