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CPT code 31625: Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue sampling2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports bronchoscopic tissue sampling from an airway lesion or abnormal mucosa, such as when a pulmonologist biopsies a suspicious endobronchial finding.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality12.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $439.28 for 31625 in the office and $152.45 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$439.28Office (non-facility)
$152.45Hospital or facility
+14.4%vs the national office rate ($384.11)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31625 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 31625 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 31625 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 31625 covers

A pulmonologist or other qualified physician passes a bronchoscope into the airways and obtains tissue from an abnormal area, commonly with biopsy forceps. Typical targets include a visible bronchial mass, irregular mucosa, or another airway lesion requiring histologic evaluation. The procedure is commonly performed in a hospital bronchoscopy suite or an outpatient procedural setting, with sedation or anesthesia as clinically appropriate.

Choose this code for biopsy of airway tissue; transbronchial sampling of lung parenchyma is represented by a different code. The report should identify the biopsy site and describe the abnormality sampled and the tissue obtained. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed in the same session, endoscopy-family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay 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 31625

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31625 runs from $340.77 in Arkansas to $511.21 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $439.28. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31625 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$439.28
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$434.83−$4.45
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$410.62−$28.66
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$399.16−$40.12
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$440.67+$1.39
  6. Alaska · Alaska$447.95+$8.67
  7. Alabama · Alabama$345.65−$93.63

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

Every other payment area

31625 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$340.77$131.61
ArizonaArizona$374.21$138.26
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$408.31$141.44
Chico, CACalifornia$407.38$140.51
El Centro, CACalifornia$407.43$140.56
Fresno, CACalifornia$407.38$140.51
Hanford, CACalifornia$407.38$140.51
Madera, CACalifornia$407.38$140.51

31625 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.

$340.77

$459.29

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

View every state and territory as a table
31625 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$447.951
AL$345.651
AR$340.771
AZ$374.211
CA$407.38–$511.2129
CO$400.601
CT$409.251
DC$439.281
DE$380.331
FL$377.14–$410.623
GA$356.56–$390.792
GU$417.281
HI$417.281
IA$354.871
ID$357.001
IL$366.01–$399.924
IN$359.041
KS$352.941
KY$352.971
LA$352.31–$369.372
MA$398.16–$440.102
MD$387.58–$439.283
ME$358.49–$377.962
MI$361.66–$381.432
MN$384.971
MO$346.19–$371.033
MS$343.561
MT$384.091
NC$362.211
ND$378.161
NE$356.871
NH$394.051
NJ$414.24–$434.832
NM$363.471
NV$382.711
NY$367.49–$450.755
OH$360.451
OK$352.681
OR$380.04–$413.452
PA$361.18–$399.052
PR$386.961
RI$393.961
SC$361.871
SD$377.461
TN$354.641
TX$358.84–$399.008
UT$366.721
VA$376.53–$439.282
VI$386.961
VT$376.431
WA$397.49–$449.282
WI$365.721
WV$352.681
WY$381.511

See 31625 in every payment locality

How the 31625 rate is calculated

Each of 31625’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 · 31625

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.03

3.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.17

8.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.30

0.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.5000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$384.11

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

3,634

Code
31625
Physician work
3.03
Practice expense
8.17
Malpractice
0.30

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 31625 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.03× 1.0543.1936
Practice expense8.17× 1.1789.6243
Malpractice0.30× 1.1130.3339
Total RVUs13.1518
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$439.28

Office: (3.03 × 1.054 + 8.17 × 1.178 + 0.3 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $439.28

Facility: (3.03 × 1.054 + 0.88 × 1.178 + 0.3 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $152.45

Open 31625 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31625

The CMS indicators that decide how 31625 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31625

Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue sampling

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

31625 without 51 · national office

$384.11

Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue sampling

31625-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$192.06

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 31625

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

Codes related to 31625
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
31628Lung biopsy, single lobeUse for transbronchial biopsy of lung parenchyma rather than biopsy of an airway lesion.$466.16
31622Bronchoscopy, diagnostic with washingDiagnostic airway examination without the tissue biopsy reported with 31625.$321.59
31623Bronchoscopy, brush cytologyUses bronchial brushing to collect cellular material rather than tissue for histology.$345.75
31624Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavageUses bronchial lavage to collect a specimen rather than taking airway tissue.$326.07
31629Bronchoscopic biopsy, needle aspiration biopsyUses needle aspiration to sample a lesion instead of forceps biopsy of airway tissue.$569.53

How 31625 has changed in Washington, DC area

31625 · Office / nonfacility

$439.28

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $54.79 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $384.49 to $439.28 (14.3%).

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

    $384.49changed to$439.28

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.11 changed to 3.03
    • Practice expense RVU 6.93 changed to 8.17
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.30
    • 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

    $399.63changed to$384.49

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.02 changed to 6.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $393.11changed to$399.63

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $411.77changed to$393.11

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.01 changed to 7.02
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.30
    • 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

    $436.51changed to$411.77

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.26 changed to 7.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.29
    • 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

    $434.91changed to$436.51

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.16 changed to 7.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $413.08changed to$434.91

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 6.42 changed to 7.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.26
    • 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

    $399.08changed to$413.08

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.21 changed to 6.42
    • 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

    $392.57changed to$399.08

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.07 changed to 6.21

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $390.95changed to$392.57

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.04 changed to 6.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.27
    • 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

    $468.97changed to$390.95

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 3.36 changed to 3.11
    • Practice expense RVU 7.61 changed to 6.04
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.28
    • 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

    $393.16changed to$468.97

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 5.82 changed to 7.61

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $391.20changed to$393.16

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $388.64changed to$391.20

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 5.79 changed to 5.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.31
    • 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

    $399.22changed to$388.64

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 6.56 changed to 5.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • 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: $399.22

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$439.28$152.45RVU26D
2026-07-01$439.28$152.45RVU26C
2026-04-01$439.28$152.45RVU26B
2026-01-01$439.28$152.45RVU26A
2025-10-01$384.49$162.79RVU25D
2025-07-01$384.49$162.79RVU25C
2025-04-01$384.49$162.79RVU25B
2025-01-01$384.49$162.79RVU25A
2024-10-01$399.63$167.51RVU24D
2024-07-01$399.63$167.51RVU24C
2024-04-01$399.63$167.51RVU24B
2024-03-09$399.63$167.51RVU24AR
2024-01-01$393.11$164.78RVU24A
2023-10-01$411.77$170.29RVU23D
2023-07-01$411.77$170.29RVU23C
2023-04-01$411.77$170.29RVU23B
2023-01-01$411.77$170.29RVU23A
2022-10-01$436.51$176.45RVU22D
2022-07-01$436.51$176.45RVU22C
2022-04-01$436.51$176.45RVU22B
2022-01-01$436.51$176.45RVU22A
2021-10-01$434.91$176.58RVU21D
2021-07-01$434.91$176.58RVU21C
2021-04-01$434.91$176.58RVU21B
2021-01-01$434.91$176.58RVU21A
2020-10-01$413.08$179.53RVU20D
2020-07-01$413.08$179.53RVU20C
2020-04-01$413.08$179.53RVU20B
2020-01-01$413.08$179.53RVU20A
2019-10-01$399.08$177.60RVU19D
2019-07-01$399.08$177.60RVU19C
2019-04-01$399.08$177.60RVU19B
2019-01-01$399.08$177.60RVU19A
2018-10-01$392.57$178.27RVU18D
2018-07-01$392.57$178.27RVU18C
2018-04-01$392.57$178.27RVU18B
2018-01-01$392.57$178.27RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$390.95$179.04RVU17D
2017-07-01$390.95$179.04RVU17C
2017-04-01$390.95$179.04RVU17B
2017-01-01$390.95$179.04RVU17A
2016-10-01$468.97$192.85RVU16D
2016-07-01$468.97$192.85RVU16C
2016-04-01$468.97$192.85RVU16B
2016-01-01$468.97$192.85RVU16A
2015-10-01$393.16$195.28RVU15D
2015-07-01$393.16$195.28RVU15C
2015-04-01$391.20$194.31RVU15B
2015-01-01$391.20$194.31RVU15A
2014-10-01$388.64$193.59RVU14D
2014-07-01$388.64$193.59RVU14C
2014-04-01$388.64$193.59RVU14B
2014-01-01$388.64$193.59RVU14A
2013-10-01$399.22$188.90RVU13D
2013-07-01$399.22$188.90RVU13C
2013-04-01$399.22$188.90RVU13B
2013-01-01$399.22$188.90RVU13AR

Price 31625 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

31625 billing questions

When should this code be chosen instead of 31628?

Use this code for tissue taken from an airway lesion or mucosa. Code 31628 applies to transbronchial biopsy of lung tissue.

Can diagnostic bronchoscopy also be reported?

The airway inspection needed to locate and obtain the biopsy is part of the biopsy service. CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together.

What documentation supports the biopsy?

Document the airway site, the abnormal finding sampled, and that tissue was obtained for evaluation. Distinguish an airway biopsy from sampling of lung parenchyma.

Should modifier 50 be appended for biopsies on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inapplicable because the code descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.

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 31625PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,634 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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