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CPT code 31615: Airway endoscopy, through established tracheostomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports endoscopic examination of the trachea and bronchi performed through an existing tracheostomy, such as to assess airway patency or investigate obstruction.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality10.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $195.86 for 31615 in the office and $112.05 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$195.86Office (non-facility)
$112.05Hospital or facility
+13.2%vs the national office rate ($173.02)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31615 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 31615 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 31615 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 31615 covers

The clinician passes a bronchoscope through an established tracheostomy opening to inspect the trachea and bronchi. Pulmonologists, otolaryngologists, and thoracic surgeons may perform the examination in a hospital, clinic, or bedside setting to assess airway patency, investigate suspected obstruction or bleeding, or evaluate concerns involving the tracheostomy airway. The existing opening is the access route; this service does not describe creating a tracheostomy.

Report 31615 when the documented endoscopic examination is performed through that established opening. The record should identify the route and the airway evaluation performed. This minor procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery, and 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 31615

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31615 runs from $154.18 in Arkansas to $222.08 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $195.86. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31615 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$195.86
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$191.86−$4.00
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$190.08−$5.78
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$184.77−$11.09
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$198.73+$2.87
  6. Alaska · Alaska$205.98+$10.12
  7. Alabama · Alabama$156.28−$39.58

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

Every other payment area

31615 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$154.18$93.07
ArizonaArizona$168.56$99.62
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$180.96$102.98
Chico, CACalifornia$180.23$102.25
El Centro, CACalifornia$180.27$102.29
Fresno, CACalifornia$180.23$102.25
Hanford, CACalifornia$180.23$102.25
Madera, CACalifornia$180.23$102.25

31615 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.

$154.18

$205.98

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

View every state and territory as a table
31615 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$205.981
AL$156.281
AR$154.181
AZ$168.561
CA$180.23–$222.0829
CO$178.621
CT$184.041
DC$195.861
DE$171.211
FL$172.60–$190.083
GA$163.29–$176.552
GU$183.871
HI$183.871
IA$159.071
ID$160.231
IL$168.59–$184.774
IN$161.071
KS$158.811
KY$160.671
LA$160.60–$167.962
MA$177.84–$194.902
MD$174.19–$195.863
ME$161.47–$168.992
MI$164.97–$175.072
MN$170.181
MO$158.33–$168.003
MS$156.261
MT$173.001
NC$162.981
ND$168.061
NE$159.751
NH$176.271
NJ$185.87–$194.132
NM$165.991
NV$171.731
NY$165.29–$203.825
OH$163.961
OK$159.931
OR$170.12–$183.482
PA$163.96–$180.002
PR$174.051
RI$176.711
SC$163.791
SD$167.471
TN$159.611
TX$162.98–$178.278
UT$165.871
VA$168.78–$195.862
VI$174.051
VT$167.841
WA$177.36–$198.292
WI$162.831
WV$162.881
WY$170.851

See 31615 in every payment locality

How the 31615 rate is calculated

Each of 31615’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 · 31615

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.79

1.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.14

3.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.25

0.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.1800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$173.02

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

3,630

Code
31615
Physician work
1.79
Practice expense
3.14
Malpractice
0.25

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 31615 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.79× 1.0541.8867
Practice expense3.14× 1.1783.6989
Malpractice0.25× 1.1130.2782
Total RVUs5.8638
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$195.86

Office: (1.79 × 1.054 + 3.14 × 1.178 + 0.25 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $195.86

Facility: (1.79 × 1.054 + 1.01 × 1.178 + 0.25 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $112.05

Open 31615 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31615

The CMS indicators that decide how 31615 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31615

Airway endoscopy, through established tracheostomy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
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

31615 without 51 · national office

$173.02

Airway endoscopy, through established tracheostomy

31615-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$86.51

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 31615

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

Codes related to 31615
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
31622Bronchoscopy, diagnostic with washingDiagnostic bronchoscopy by another route, rather than through an established tracheostomy.$321.59
31625Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue samplingBronchoscopy with biopsy when tissue sampling is the service performed.$439.28
31635Bronchoscopy, foreign body removalBronchoscopy with foreign-body removal when removal is performed.$367.09

How 31615 has changed in Washington, DC area

31615 · Office / nonfacility

$195.86

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $6.68 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $189.18 to $195.86 (3.5%).

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

    $189.18changed to$195.86

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.84 changed to 1.79
    • Practice expense RVU 3.03 changed to 3.14
    • 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

    $197.07changed to$189.18

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.09 changed to 3.03

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $193.85changed to$197.07

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $203.39changed to$193.85

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • 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

    $209.62changed to$203.39

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 3.07 changed to 3.09
    • 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

    $209.20changed to$209.62

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.02 changed to 3.07

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $204.12changed to$209.20

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 2.79 changed to 3.02
    • 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

    $199.65changed to$204.12

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.74 changed to 2.79
    • 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

    $196.39changed to$199.65

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 2.67 changed to 2.74

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $197.37changed to$196.39

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 2.70 changed to 2.67
    • 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

    $214.44changed to$197.37

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 2.09 changed to 1.84
    • Practice expense RVU 2.85 changed to 2.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.25
    • 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

    $214.38changed to$214.44

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 2.82 changed to 2.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $213.31changed to$214.38

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $212.55changed to$213.31

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 2.86 changed to 2.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.29
    • 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

    $213.39changed to$212.55

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.16 changed to 2.86
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25
    • 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: $213.39

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$195.86$112.05RVU26D
2026-07-01$195.86$112.05RVU26C
2026-04-01$195.86$112.05RVU26B
2026-01-01$195.86$112.05RVU26A
2025-10-01$189.18$125.95RVU25D
2025-07-01$189.18$125.95RVU25C
2025-04-01$189.18$125.95RVU25B
2025-01-01$189.18$125.95RVU25A
2024-10-01$197.07$128.82RVU24D
2024-07-01$197.07$128.82RVU24C
2024-04-01$197.07$128.82RVU24B
2024-03-09$197.07$128.82RVU24AR
2024-01-01$193.85$126.72RVU24A
2023-10-01$203.39$130.99RVU23D
2023-07-01$203.39$130.99RVU23C
2023-04-01$203.39$130.99RVU23B
2023-01-01$203.39$130.99RVU23A
2022-10-01$209.62$133.49RVU22D
2022-07-01$209.62$133.49RVU22C
2022-04-01$209.62$133.49RVU22B
2022-01-01$209.62$133.49RVU22A
2021-10-01$209.20$132.44RVU21D
2021-07-01$209.20$132.44RVU21C
2021-04-01$209.20$132.44RVU21B
2021-01-01$209.20$132.44RVU21A
2020-10-01$204.12$133.62RVU20D
2020-07-01$204.12$133.62RVU20C
2020-04-01$204.12$133.62RVU20B
2020-01-01$204.12$133.62RVU20A
2019-10-01$199.65$132.77RVU19D
2019-07-01$199.65$132.77RVU19C
2019-04-01$199.65$132.77RVU19B
2019-01-01$199.65$132.77RVU19A
2018-10-01$196.39$132.19RVU18D
2018-07-01$196.39$132.19RVU18C
2018-04-01$196.39$132.19RVU18B
2018-01-01$196.39$132.19RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$197.37$133.37RVU17D
2017-07-01$197.37$133.37RVU17C
2017-04-01$197.37$133.37RVU17B
2017-01-01$197.37$133.37RVU17A
2016-10-01$214.44$149.29RVU16D
2016-07-01$214.44$149.29RVU16C
2016-04-01$214.44$149.29RVU16B
2016-01-01$214.44$149.29RVU16A
2015-10-01$214.38$149.86RVU15D
2015-07-01$214.38$149.86RVU15C
2015-04-01$213.31$149.11RVU15B
2015-01-01$213.31$149.11RVU15A
2014-10-01$212.55$148.40RVU14D
2014-07-01$212.55$148.40RVU14C
2014-04-01$212.55$148.40RVU14B
2014-01-01$212.55$148.40RVU14A
2013-10-01$213.39$144.91RVU13D
2013-07-01$213.39$144.91RVU13C
2013-04-01$213.39$144.91RVU13B
2013-01-01$213.39$144.91RVU13AR

Price 31615 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

31615 billing questions

How does 31615 differ from 31622?

31615 describes tracheobronchoscopy through an established tracheostomy. Consider 31622 when diagnostic bronchoscopy is performed by another route and its service meets that code's requirements.

Can 31615 be reported when a new tracheostomy is created?

31615 requires an established tracheostomy opening. A tracheostomy creation service, such as 31600 or 31601, describes creating the opening rather than examining the airway through an existing one.

What should the documentation identify?

Document that the scope passed through an established tracheostomy and describe the tracheal and bronchial examination, including the clinical reason for it.

Can modifier 50 be used?

No. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this code.

How do same-session procedures affect payment?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures in the same session are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period.

Are assistant or co-surgeon claims payable?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. 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
RVUs for 31615PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,630 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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