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CPT code 31624: Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Tennessee

Report this service when a bronchoscopist instills and retrieves fluid from the lower airways to collect a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality101K Medicare services in 2024

In Tennessee, Medicare pays $265.00 for 31624 in the office and $114.71 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$265.00Office (non-facility)
$114.71Hospital or facility
−7.4%vs the national office rate ($286.25)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31624 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 31624 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Tennessee
  2. What 31624 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 31624 covers

A pulmonologist or other qualified bronchoscopist passes a scope into the airways, instills sterile fluid into a selected lung segment, and suctions it back for testing. The lavage specimen may be sent for microbiology or cytology during evaluation of suspected pulmonary infection or diffuse lung disease. The service is commonly performed in a hospital or ambulatory procedure setting as part of diagnostic bronchoscopy.

Select this code when the bronchoscopic sampling method is lavage, rather than airway washing, brushing, or tissue biopsy. The report should identify the procedure and sampled area, and the record should support why lavage was performed. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 Tennessee compares for 31624

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31624 runs from $255.18 in Arkansas to $377.12 in San Benito County, CA. Tennessee pays $265.00. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31624 in Tennessee vs other payment areas
  1. Tennessee · this page$265.00
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$322.33+$57.33
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$326.07+$61.07
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$306.40+$41.40
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$298.19+$33.19
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$327.64+$62.64
  7. Alaska · Alaska$337.93+$72.93

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

Every other payment area

31624 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$258.68$114.01
ArkansasArkansas$255.18$113.16
ArizonaArizona$279.12$118.91
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$303.24$122.03
Chico, CACalifornia$302.48$121.27
El Centro, CACalifornia$302.52$121.31
Fresno, CACalifornia$302.48$121.27
Hanford, CACalifornia$302.48$121.27

31624 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.

$255.18

$339.80

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

View every state and territory as a table
31624 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$337.931
AL$258.681
AR$255.181
AZ$279.121
CA$302.48–$377.1229
CO$297.851
CT$304.481
DC$326.071
DE$283.551
FL$281.80–$306.403
GA$266.97–$291.202
GU$309.271
HI$309.271
IA$265.031
ID$266.601
IL$273.99–$298.244
IN$268.061
KS$263.771
KY$264.171
LA$263.75–$275.972
MA$296.20–$326.262
MD$288.76–$326.073
ME$267.80–$281.552
MI$270.51–$285.002
MN$286.191
MO$259.44–$277.013
MS$257.361
MT$286.231
NC$270.441
ND$281.481
NE$266.421
NH$293.151
NJ$308.17–$323.012
NM$271.861
NV$285.101
NY$274.23–$335.015
OH$269.541
OK$263.841
OR$283.09–$306.952
PA$270.00–$297.232
PR$288.251
RI$293.361
SC$270.401
SD$280.921
TN$265.001
TX$268.33–$296.688
UT$273.861
VA$280.61–$326.072
VI$288.251
VT$280.361
WA$295.66–$332.802
WI$272.601
WV$264.451
WY$284.161

See 31624 in every payment locality

How the 31624 rate is calculated

Each of 31624’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 · 31624

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.56

2.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.77

5.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.24

0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.5700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$286.25

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

3,633

Code
31624
Physician work
2.56
Practice expense
5.77
Malpractice
0.24

GPCI2026.csv

95

Locality
Tennessee
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.909
Malpractice
0.537
Office calculation for 31624 in Tennessee
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.56× 1.0002.5600
Practice expense5.77× 0.9095.2449
Malpractice0.24× 0.5370.1289
Total RVUs7.9338
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Tennessee$265.00

Office: (2.56 × 1 + 5.77 × 0.909 + 0.24 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $265.00

Facility: (2.56 × 1 + 0.82 × 0.909 + 0.24 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $114.71

Open 31624 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31624

The CMS indicators that decide how 31624 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31624

Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage

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)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

31624 without 51 · national office

$286.25

Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage

31624-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$143.13

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 31624

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

Codes related to 31624
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Tennessee
Same family
31622Bronchoscopy, diagnostic with washingDiagnostic bronchoscopy with airway washing rather than bronchoalveolar lavage.$260.33
31623Bronchoscopy, brush cytologyUses bronchoscopic brushing to collect a specimen instead of lavage.$280.18
31625Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue samplingObtains bronchoscopic tissue biopsy rather than a lavage specimen.$354.64
31628Lung biopsy, single lobeObtains a lung biopsy through bronchoscopy rather than lavage fluid.$377.74
31629Bronchoscopic biopsy, needle aspiration biopsyUses bronchoscopic needle biopsy for sampling rather than lavage.$458.43

How 31624 has changed in Tennessee

31624 · Office / nonfacility

$265.00

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $37.17 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $227.83 to $265.00 (16.3%).

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

    $227.83changed to$265.00

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.63 changed to 2.56
    • Practice expense RVU 4.78 changed to 5.77
    • 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

    $234.16changed to$227.83

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.77 changed to 4.78

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $230.34changed to$234.16

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $236.50changed to$230.34

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.72 changed to 4.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.24
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.894 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.544

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $243.72changed to$236.50

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.82 changed to 4.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.25
    • 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

    $243.08changed to$243.72

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 4.74 changed to 4.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.23

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $238.34changed to$243.08

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.30 changed to 4.74
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.22
    • 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

    $236.82changed to$238.34

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.24 changed to 4.30
    • 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

    $240.78changed to$236.82

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.37 changed to 4.24

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$240.78

    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$265.00$114.71RVU26D
2026-07-01$265.00$114.71RVU26C
2026-04-01$265.00$114.71RVU26B
2026-01-01$265.00$114.71RVU26A
2025-10-01$227.83$120.31RVU25D
2025-07-01$227.83$120.31RVU25C
2025-04-01$227.83$120.31RVU25B
2025-01-01$227.83$120.31RVU25A
2024-10-01$234.16$123.21RVU24D
2024-07-01$234.16$123.21RVU24C
2024-04-01$234.16$123.21RVU24B
2024-03-09$234.16$123.21RVU24AR
2024-01-01$230.34$121.20RVU24A
2023-10-01$236.50$124.72RVU23D
2023-07-01$236.50$124.72RVU23C
2023-04-01$236.50$124.72RVU23B
2023-01-01$236.50$124.72RVU23A
2022-10-01$243.72$127.34RVU22D
2022-07-01$243.72$127.34RVU22C
2022-04-01$243.72$127.34RVU22B
2022-01-01$243.72$127.34RVU22A
2021-10-01$243.08$127.92RVU21D
2021-07-01$243.08$127.92RVU21C
2021-04-01$243.08$127.92RVU21B
2021-01-01$243.08$127.92RVU21A
2020-10-01$238.34$131.84RVU20D
2020-07-01$238.34$131.84RVU20C
2020-04-01$238.34$131.84RVU20B
2020-01-01$238.34$131.84RVU20A
2019-10-01$236.82$131.61RVU19D
2019-07-01$236.82$131.61RVU19C
2019-04-01$236.82$131.61RVU19B
2019-01-01$236.82$131.61RVU19A
2018-10-01$240.78$133.09RVU18D
2018-07-01$240.78$133.09RVU18C
2018-04-01$240.78$133.09RVU18B
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 31624 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

31624 billing questions

How is lavage different from a bronchial washing?

Use 31624 for bronchoalveolar lavage, which involves instilling fluid into a lung segment and retrieving it for sampling. Code 31622 describes diagnostic bronchoscopy with washing instead.

Is lavage reported for each segment or saline aliquot?

The service is lavage performed through bronchoscopy, not a separate service for each fluid aliquot. Document the sampled area and procedure performed.

Can lavage be reported with a bronchoscopic biopsy?

A lavage and a biopsy are distinct sampling methods, but related endoscopies performed together are subject to CMS endoscopy-family pricing. The record should support each service reported.

Should modifier 50 be appended for lavage of both lungs?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.

Does the code include same-day recovery care?

Yes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

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 31624PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,633 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for TennesseeGPCI2026.csv, line 95 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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