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CPT code 31624: Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in King County, WA

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 King County, WA, Medicare pays $332.80 for 31624 in the office and $129.94 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$332.80Office (non-facility)
$129.94Hospital or facility
+16.3%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 King County, WA
  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 King County, WA 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. King County, WA pays $332.80. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31624 in King County, WA vs other payment areas
  1. King County, WA · this page$332.80
  2. Rest of Washington · Washington$295.66−$37.14
  3. Los Angeles, CA · California$322.33−$10.47
  4. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$326.07−$6.73
  5. Miami, FL · Florida$306.40−$26.40
  6. Chicago, IL · Illinois$298.19−$34.61
  7. Manhattan, NY · New York$327.64−$5.16

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

Every other payment area

31624 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlaskaAlaska$337.93$161.85
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

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 King County, WA 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

108

Locality
King County, WA
Physician work
1.050
Practice expense
1.227
Malpractice
0.817
Office calculation for 31624 in King County, WA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.56× 1.0502.6880
Practice expense5.77× 1.2277.0798
Malpractice0.24× 0.8170.1961
Total RVUs9.9639
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, King County, WA$332.80

Office: (2.56 × 1.05 + 5.77 × 1.227 + 0.24 × 0.817) × $33.4009 = $332.80

Facility: (2.56 × 1.05 + 0.82 × 1.227 + 0.24 × 0.817) × $33.4009 = $129.94

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, King County, WA
Same family
31622Bronchoscopy, diagnostic with washingDiagnostic bronchoscopy with airway washing rather than bronchoalveolar lavage.$327.59
31623Bronchoscopy, brush cytologyUses bronchoscopic brushing to collect a specimen instead of lavage.$353.29
31625Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue samplingObtains bronchoscopic tissue biopsy rather than a lavage specimen.$449.28
31628Lung biopsy, single lobeObtains a lung biopsy through bronchoscopy rather than lavage fluid.$476.25
31629Bronchoscopic biopsy, needle aspiration biopsyUses bronchoscopic needle biopsy for sampling rather than lavage.$583.26

How 31624 has changed in King County, WA

31624 · Office / nonfacility

$332.80

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $48.82 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $283.98 to $332.80 (17.2%).

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

    $283.98changed to$332.80

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.043 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.220 changed to 1.227
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.853 changed to 0.817

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $291.84changed to$283.98

    • 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

    $287.08changed to$291.84

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $292.56changed to$287.08

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.043
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.220
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.815 changed to 0.853

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $299.63changed to$292.56

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.039
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.207
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.776 changed to 0.815

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $298.51changed to$299.63

    • 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

    $286.51changed to$298.51

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.036
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.170 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.854 changed to 0.776

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $280.17changed to$286.51

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.24 changed to 4.30
    • Work GPCI 1.027 changed to 1.031
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.146 changed to 1.170
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.854

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $285.23changed to$280.17

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

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $282.00changed to$285.23

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.34 changed to 4.37
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.027
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.151 changed to 1.146
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.713 changed to 0.931

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $349.98changed to$282.00

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 2.88 changed to 2.63
    • Practice expense RVU 5.80 changed to 4.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.23
    • Work GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.155 changed to 1.151
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.495 changed to 0.713

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $351.00changed to$349.98

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 5.79 changed to 5.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $349.26changed to$351.00

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $345.08changed to$349.26

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 5.66 changed to 5.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.26
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.150 changed to 1.155
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.688 changed to 0.495

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $358.11changed to$345.08

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 6.42 changed to 5.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.144 changed to 1.150
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.881 changed to 0.688

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $358.11

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$332.80$129.94RVU26D
2026-07-01$332.80$129.94RVU26C
2026-04-01$332.80$129.94RVU26B
2026-01-01$332.80$129.94RVU26A
2025-10-01$283.98$137.58RVU25D
2025-07-01$283.98$137.58RVU25C
2025-04-01$283.98$137.58RVU25B
2025-01-01$283.98$137.58RVU25A
2024-10-01$291.84$140.77RVU24D
2024-07-01$291.84$140.77RVU24C
2024-04-01$291.84$140.77RVU24B
2024-03-09$291.84$140.77RVU24AR
2024-01-01$287.08$138.47RVU24A
2023-10-01$292.56$141.63RVU23D
2023-07-01$292.56$141.63RVU23C
2023-04-01$292.56$141.63RVU23B
2023-01-01$292.56$141.63RVU23A
2022-10-01$299.63$143.85RVU22D
2022-07-01$299.63$143.85RVU22C
2022-04-01$299.63$143.85RVU22B
2022-01-01$299.63$143.85RVU22A
2021-10-01$298.51$144.36RVU21D
2021-07-01$298.51$144.36RVU21C
2021-04-01$298.51$144.36RVU21B
2021-01-01$298.51$144.36RVU21A
2020-10-01$286.51$147.59RVU20D
2020-07-01$286.51$147.59RVU20C
2020-04-01$286.51$147.59RVU20B
2020-01-01$286.51$147.59RVU20A
2019-10-01$280.17$146.36RVU19D
2019-07-01$280.17$146.36RVU19C
2019-04-01$280.17$146.36RVU19B
2019-01-01$280.17$146.36RVU19A
2018-10-01$285.23$148.26RVU18D
2018-07-01$285.23$148.26RVU18C
2018-04-01$285.23$148.26RVU18B
2018-01-01$285.23$148.26RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$282.00$146.51RVU17D
2017-07-01$282.00$146.51RVU17C
2017-04-01$282.00$146.51RVU17B
2017-01-01$282.00$146.51RVU17A
2016-10-01$349.98$156.86RVU16D
2016-07-01$349.98$156.86RVU16C
2016-04-01$349.98$156.86RVU16B
2016-01-01$349.98$156.86RVU16A
2015-10-01$351.00$157.60RVU15D
2015-07-01$351.00$157.60RVU15C
2015-04-01$349.26$156.81RVU15B
2015-01-01$349.26$156.81RVU15A
2014-10-01$345.08$158.46RVU14D
2014-07-01$345.08$158.46RVU14C
2014-04-01$345.08$158.46RVU14B
2014-01-01$345.08$158.46RVU14A
2013-10-01$358.11$157.27RVU13D
2013-07-01$358.11$157.27RVU13C
2013-04-01$358.11$157.27RVU13B
2013-01-01$358.11$157.27RVU13AR

Price 31624 for an earlier date of service

Where the King County, WA rate applies

King County, WA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 63 cities and communities in Washington. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Seattle
  • Algona
  • Ames Lake
  • 31624 in Auburn · multiple payment areas
  • Baring
  • Beaux Arts Village
  • Bellevue
  • Black Diamond

Browse all communities in Washington

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 King County, WAGPCI2026.csv, line 108 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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