CPT code 31591: Laryngoplasty, unilateral medialization2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Delaware

In Delaware, Medicare pays $989.46 for 31591 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31591 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 31591 covers

An otolaryngologist or laryngologist performs this framework procedure to move one vocal fold toward the midline and improve glottic closure. A typical indication is unilateral vocal fold paralysis or immobility causing a persistent voice or airway-protection problem. In a type I thyroplasty approach, the surgeon works through the neck and adjusts the thyroid cartilage framework, commonly placing an implant to medialize the fold. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room.

Report the code for unilateral medialization surgery, not for endoscopic injection augmentation or diagnostic examination alone. The operative report should identify the treated side, the indication, and the framework work performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery and co-surgeon payment require the documentation described in CMS rules; team surgery is 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 Delaware compares for 31591

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 31591 runs from $898.82 in Arkansas to $1,236.55 in San Benito County, CA. Delaware pays $989.46. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

31591 rates by state

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

See 31591 in every payment locality

How the 31591 rate is calculated

Each of 31591’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 31591

31591 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 31591

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

How 31591 has changed in Delaware

Price 31591 for an earlier date of service

Where the Delaware rate applies

Delaware is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Arden
• Ardencroft
• Ardentown
• Bear
• Bellefonte
• Bethany Beach
• Bethel
• Blades

Browse all communities in Delaware

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