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CPT code 31577: Laryngoscopy, foreign body removal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Tennessee

Direct operative laryngoscopy removes a foreign object lodged in the larynx when visualization and instrument retrieval are needed beyond an office examination.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality117 Medicare services in 2024

In Tennessee, Medicare pays $255.80 for 31577 in the office and $110.37 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$255.80Office (non-facility)
$110.37Hospital or facility
−8.3%vs the national office rate ($278.90)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31577 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 31577 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Tennessee
  2. What 31577 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 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.

How Tennessee compares for 31577

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31577 runs from $245.74 in Arkansas to $368.15 in San Benito County, CA. Tennessee pays $255.80. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31577 in Tennessee vs other payment areas
  1. Tennessee · this page$255.80
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$313.89+$58.09
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$318.94+$63.14
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$304.30+$48.50
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$295.08+$39.28
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$321.89+$66.09
  7. Alaska · Alaska$322.28+$66.48

Other areas in Tennessee first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

31577 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$249.46$109.47
ArkansasArkansas$245.74$108.31
ArizonaArizona$271.18$116.15
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$294.64$119.29
Chico, CACalifornia$293.67$118.32
El Centro, CACalifornia$293.72$118.37
Fresno, CACalifornia$293.67$118.32
Hanford, CACalifornia$293.67$118.32

31577 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.

$245.74

$330.91

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

View every state and territory as a table
31577 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$322.281
AL$249.461
AR$245.741
AZ$271.181
CA$293.67–$368.1529
CO$289.821
CT$297.811
DC$318.941
DE$275.761
FL$275.98–$304.303
GA$259.90–$284.532
GU$300.981
HI$300.981
IA$255.381
ID$257.231
IL$268.23–$295.084
IN$258.751
KS$254.441
KY$256.171
LA$255.87–$268.872
MA$288.13–$318.622
MD$281.03–$318.943
ME$258.92–$272.942
MI$263.30–$279.832
MN$276.591
MO$251.55–$269.513
MS$248.681
MT$278.871
NC$261.661
ND$272.151
NE$256.741
NH$285.521
NJ$300.90–$315.542
NM$264.911
NV$277.201
NY$265.72–$330.265
OH$261.931
OK$255.391
OR$274.74–$298.902
PA$262.20–$290.412
PR$280.881
RI$285.501
SC$262.291
SD$271.361
TN$255.801
TX$260.45–$289.128
UT$265.981
VA$272.23–$318.942
VI$280.881
VT$271.331
WA$287.50–$324.902
WI$262.801
WV$258.111
WY$275.941

See 31577 in every payment locality

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

Office or facility?

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.

The exact Tennessee inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,610

Code
31577
Physician work
2.14
Practice expense
5.87
Malpractice
0.34

GPCI2026.csv

95

Locality
Tennessee
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.909
Malpractice
0.537
Office calculation for 31577 in Tennessee
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.14× 1.0002.1400
Practice expense5.87× 0.9095.3358
Malpractice0.34× 0.5370.1826
Total RVUs7.6584
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Tennessee$255.80

Office: (2.14 × 1 + 5.87 × 0.909 + 0.34 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $255.80

Facility: (2.14 × 1 + 1.08 × 0.909 + 0.34 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $110.37

Open 31577 in the RVU calculator

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

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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
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

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 31577

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

Codes related to 31577
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Tennessee
Used instead
31575Laryngoscopy, flexible, diagnosticDiagnostic laryngoscopy without operative foreign body retrieval.$116.86
31576Laryngeal biopsy, flexible endoscopic approachLaryngoscopy with biopsy when tissue sampling, rather than foreign body removal, is performed.$246.47
31578Laryngoscopy, flexible scope, lesion removalOperative laryngoscopy for removal of a lesion rather than a foreign object.$279.32
31635Bronchoscopy, foreign body removalBronchoscopic foreign body removal when the object is in the bronchial airway.$300.15

How 31577 has changed in Tennessee

31577 · Office / nonfacility

$255.80

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $18.01 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $237.79 to $255.80 (7.6%).

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

    $237.79changed to$255.80

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.19 changed to 2.14
    • Practice expense RVU 5.56 changed to 5.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.34
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.909
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.544 changed to 0.537

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $249.18changed to$237.79

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.71 changed to 5.56

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $245.11changed to$249.18

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $256.50changed to$245.11

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.82 changed to 5.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.894 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.544

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $258.25changed to$256.50

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.74 changed to 5.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.34
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.894
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.518

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $261.50changed to$258.25

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.77 changed to 5.74
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.31

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $260.37changed to$261.50

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 5.42 changed to 5.77
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.897 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.509 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $259.69changed to$260.37

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 5.38 changed to 5.42
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.901 changed to 0.897
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.526 changed to 0.509

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $255.97changed to$259.69

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 5.28 changed to 5.38
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.32

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$255.97

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$255.80$110.37RVU26D
2026-07-01$255.80$110.37RVU26C
2026-04-01$255.80$110.37RVU26B
2026-01-01$255.80$110.37RVU26A
2025-10-01$237.79$120.12RVU25D
2025-07-01$237.79$120.12RVU25C
2025-04-01$237.79$120.12RVU25B
2025-01-01$237.79$120.12RVU25A
2024-10-01$249.18$122.72RVU24D
2024-07-01$249.18$122.72RVU24C
2024-04-01$249.18$122.72RVU24B
2024-03-09$249.18$122.72RVU24AR
2024-01-01$245.11$120.72RVU24A
2023-10-01$256.50$124.41RVU23D
2023-07-01$256.50$124.41RVU23C
2023-04-01$256.50$124.41RVU23B
2023-01-01$256.50$124.41RVU23A
2022-10-01$258.25$126.44RVU22D
2022-07-01$258.25$126.44RVU22C
2022-04-01$258.25$126.44RVU22B
2022-01-01$258.25$126.44RVU22A
2021-10-01$261.50$123.93RVU21D
2021-07-01$261.50$123.93RVU21C
2021-04-01$261.50$123.93RVU21B
2021-01-01$261.50$123.93RVU21A
2020-10-01$260.37$127.32RVU20D
2020-07-01$260.37$127.32RVU20C
2020-04-01$260.37$127.32RVU20B
2020-01-01$260.37$127.32RVU20A
2019-10-01$259.69$128.18RVU19D
2019-07-01$259.69$128.18RVU19C
2019-04-01$259.69$128.18RVU19B
2019-01-01$259.69$128.18RVU19A
2018-10-01$255.97$127.52RVU18D
2018-07-01$255.97$127.52RVU18C
2018-04-01$255.97$127.52RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 31577 for an earlier date of service

Where the Tennessee rate applies

Tennessee is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 504 cities and communities in Tennessee. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Adams
  • Adamsville
  • Alamo
  • Alcoa
  • Alexandria
  • Algood
  • Allardt
  • Altamont

Browse all communities in Tennessee

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
RVUs for 31577PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,610 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for TennesseeGPCI2026.csv, line 95 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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