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CPT code 31622: Bronchoscopy, diagnostic with washing2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina

Reports diagnostic rigid or flexible bronchoscopy with airway inspection and bronchial washing when performed, without a separately described sampling or therapeutic procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality30.4K Medicare services in 2024

In South Carolina, Medicare pays $266.32 for 31622 in the office and $116.63 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$266.32Office (non-facility)
$116.63Hospital or facility
−5.6%vs the national office rate ($282.24)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31622 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 31622 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in South Carolina
  2. What 31622 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 31622 covers

A pulmonologist or other qualified physician uses a rigid or flexible bronchoscope to inspect the tracheobronchial tree for diagnostic purposes. The service may include bronchial washing: saline is introduced into an airway and retrieved for cytology or microbiology. Typical indications include evaluating hemoptysis, persistent cough, suspected airway lesions, or infection. Bronchoscopy is commonly performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center, with office use less frequent.

Report this code when the diagnostic examination, with washing if performed, is the service provided; document the indication, scope findings, and any washing collected. Use a more specific bronchoscopy code when brushings, lavage, or biopsy are performed. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 South Carolina compares for 31622

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31622 runs from $250.63 in Arkansas to $370.52 in San Benito County, CA. South Carolina pays $266.32. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31622 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$266.32
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$316.97+$50.65
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$321.59+$55.27
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$305.34+$39.02
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$296.74+$30.42
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$324.12+$57.80
  7. Alaska · Alaska$331.32+$65.00

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

Every other payment area

31622 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$254.17$112.43
ArkansasArkansas$250.63$111.47
ArizonaArizona$274.91$117.94
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$298.10$120.55
Chico, CACalifornia$297.20$119.66
El Centro, CACalifornia$297.25$119.71
Fresno, CACalifornia$297.20$119.66
Hanford, CACalifornia$297.20$119.66

31622 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.

$250.63

$333.86

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

View every state and territory as a table
31622 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$331.321
AL$254.171
AR$250.631
AZ$274.911
CA$297.20–$370.5229
CO$293.181
CT$300.601
DC$321.591
DE$279.361
FL$278.93–$305.343
GA$263.67–$287.532
GU$304.011
HI$304.011
IA$260.071
ID$261.781
IL$271.37–$296.744
IN$263.241
KS$259.051
KY$260.331
LA$260.00–$272.412
MA$291.58–$321.322
MD$284.52–$321.593
ME$263.27–$276.832
MI$267.02–$282.472
MN$280.691
MO$255.80–$273.153
MS$253.251
MT$282.221
NC$265.911
ND$276.291
NE$261.401
NH$288.761
NJ$303.96–$318.472
NM$268.511
NV$280.751
NY$269.78–$331.965
OH$265.811
OK$259.701
OR$278.50–$302.052
PA$266.13–$293.432
PR$284.171
RI$288.981
SC$266.321
SD$275.581
TN$260.331
TX$264.45–$292.268
UT$269.831
VA$276.07–$321.592
VI$284.171
VT$275.391
WA$290.97–$327.592
WI$267.341
WV$261.701
WY$279.631

See 31622 in every payment locality

How the 31622 rate is calculated

Each of 31622’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 · 31622

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.47

2.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.68

5.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.30

0.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.4500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$282.24

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact South Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,631

Code
31622
Physician work
2.47
Practice expense
5.68
Malpractice
0.30

GPCI2026.csv

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 31622 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.47× 1.0002.4700
Practice expense5.68× 0.9245.2483
Malpractice0.30× 0.8500.2550
Total RVUs7.9733
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$266.32

Office: (2.47 × 1 + 5.68 × 0.924 + 0.3 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $266.32

Facility: (2.47 × 1 + 0.83 × 0.924 + 0.3 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $116.63

Open 31622 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31622

The CMS indicators that decide how 31622 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31622

Bronchoscopy, diagnostic with washing

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

31622 without 51 · national office

$282.24

Bronchoscopy, diagnostic with washing

31622-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$141.12

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 31622

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

Codes related to 31622
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, South Carolina
Same family
31623Bronchoscopy, brush cytologyDiagnostic bronchoscopy with bronchial brushing rather than washing.$285.83
31624Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavageDiagnostic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage.$270.40
31625Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue samplingBronchoscopy with bronchial or endobronchial biopsy.$361.87
31628Lung biopsy, single lobeBronchoscopy with transbronchial lung biopsy.$385.41

How 31622 has changed in South Carolina

31622 · Office / nonfacility

$266.32

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $38.02 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $228.30 to $266.32 (16.7%).

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

    $228.30changed to$266.32

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.53 changed to 2.47
    • Practice expense RVU 4.70 changed to 5.68
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.924
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.817 changed to 0.850

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $233.66changed to$228.30

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.64 changed to 4.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.29

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $229.85changed to$233.66

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $233.78changed to$229.85

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.57 changed to 4.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $238.04changed to$233.78

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.60 changed to 4.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.29
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.756

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $236.93changed to$238.04

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 4.51 changed to 4.60
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $231.27changed to$236.93

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.09 changed to 4.51
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.624 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $229.35changed to$231.27

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.04 changed to 4.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.912 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.553 changed to 0.624

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $229.75changed to$229.35

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.06 changed to 4.04

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $229.73changed to$229.75

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.05 changed to 4.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.27
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $289.68changed to$229.73

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 2.78 changed to 2.53
    • Practice expense RVU 5.58 changed to 4.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.28
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $298.92changed to$289.68

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 5.83 changed to 5.58

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $297.43changed to$298.92

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $293.56changed to$297.43

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 5.72 changed to 5.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.911 changed to 0.912
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.618 changed to 0.715

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $301.01changed to$293.56

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 6.48 changed to 5.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.909 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.520 changed to 0.618

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $301.01

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$266.32$116.63RVU26D
2026-07-01$266.32$116.63RVU26C
2026-04-01$266.32$116.63RVU26B
2026-01-01$266.32$116.63RVU26A
2025-10-01$228.30$121.40RVU25D
2025-07-01$228.30$121.40RVU25C
2025-04-01$228.30$121.40RVU25B
2025-01-01$228.30$121.40RVU25A
2024-10-01$233.66$124.86RVU24D
2024-07-01$233.66$124.86RVU24C
2024-04-01$233.66$124.86RVU24B
2024-03-09$233.66$124.86RVU24AR
2024-01-01$229.85$122.83RVU24A
2023-10-01$233.78$124.86RVU23D
2023-07-01$233.78$124.86RVU23C
2023-04-01$233.78$124.86RVU23B
2023-01-01$233.78$124.86RVU23A
2022-10-01$238.04$126.79RVU22D
2022-07-01$238.04$126.79RVU22C
2022-04-01$238.04$126.79RVU22B
2022-01-01$238.04$126.79RVU22A
2021-10-01$236.93$127.28RVU21D
2021-07-01$236.93$127.28RVU21C
2021-04-01$236.93$127.28RVU21B
2021-01-01$236.93$127.28RVU21A
2020-10-01$231.27$129.79RVU20D
2020-07-01$231.27$129.79RVU20C
2020-04-01$231.27$129.79RVU20B
2020-01-01$231.27$129.79RVU20A
2019-10-01$229.35$128.77RVU19D
2019-07-01$229.35$128.77RVU19C
2019-04-01$229.35$128.77RVU19B
2019-01-01$229.35$128.77RVU19A
2018-10-01$229.75$128.96RVU18D
2018-07-01$229.75$128.96RVU18C
2018-04-01$229.75$128.96RVU18B
2018-01-01$229.75$128.96RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$229.73$129.90RVU17D
2017-07-01$229.73$129.90RVU17C
2017-04-01$229.73$129.90RVU17B
2017-01-01$229.73$129.90RVU17A
2016-10-01$289.68$142.41RVU16D
2016-07-01$289.68$142.41RVU16C
2016-04-01$289.68$142.41RVU16B
2016-01-01$289.68$142.41RVU16A
2015-10-01$298.92$144.24RVU15D
2015-07-01$298.92$144.24RVU15C
2015-04-01$297.43$143.52RVU15B
2015-01-01$297.43$143.52RVU15A
2014-10-01$293.56$143.44RVU14D
2014-07-01$293.56$143.44RVU14C
2014-04-01$293.56$143.44RVU14B
2014-01-01$293.56$143.44RVU14A
2013-10-01$301.01$138.95RVU13D
2013-07-01$301.01$138.95RVU13C
2013-04-01$301.01$138.95RVU13B
2013-01-01$301.01$138.95RVU13AR

Price 31622 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Abney Crossroads
  • Adams Run
  • Aiken
  • Alcolu
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Andrews

Browse all communities in South Carolina

31622 billing questions

When should 31622 be used instead of 31624?

Use 31622 for diagnostic airway inspection with bronchial washing when performed. Use 31624 when bronchoalveolar lavage is performed to sample more distal airways and alveolar regions.

Can 31622 be reported with a bronchoscopy biopsy code?

The diagnostic inspection is generally part of a more definitive bronchoscopic procedure and is not separately reported with it. Report the code for the biopsy service performed.

Does bronchial washing require a separate code?

No. Washing is included in 31622 when performed; the documentation should identify the washing and its purpose.

How does 31622 differ from 31623?

31622 covers diagnostic inspection with washing when performed. 31623 identifies bronchial brushing, so use it when a brush is used to collect a specimen.

What should the procedure note support?

Document the diagnostic indication, whether a rigid or flexible scope was used, the airway examination and findings, and any washing or other sampling performed.

How are other same-session procedures paid?

When multiple procedures are performed in one session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 31622.

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 31622PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,631 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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