FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 31626: Fiducial placement, bronchoscopic markers2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Iowa

Reports bronchoscopic placement of one or more fiducial markers near a lung target for image-guided radiation treatment or lesion localization.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.8K Medicare services in 2024

In Iowa, Medicare pays $798.73 for 31626 in the office and $166.10 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$798.73Office (non-facility)
$166.10Hospital or facility
−8.1%vs the national office rate ($869.43)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31626 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 31626 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Iowa
  2. What 31626 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 31626 covers

During flexible or rigid bronchoscopy, a pulmonologist or thoracic surgeon places one or more radiopaque fiducial markers in or near a pulmonary target. The markers provide a reference for later image-guided treatment, commonly stereotactic radiation, or for localizing a small lung lesion. The procedure is typically performed in a hospital bronchoscopy suite or operating room, often with imaging guidance and anesthesia support.

Report 31626 for marker placement, whether one or several markers are placed. Documentation should identify the target, marker number and locations, bronchoscopic approach, and clinical purpose. Navigation to a peripheral target or tissue sampling may also be performed and evaluated under the applicable bronchoscopy codes. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 Iowa compares for 31626

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31626 runs from $759.72 in Arkansas to $1,198.15 in San Benito County, CA. Iowa pays $798.73. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31626 in Iowa vs other payment areas
  1. Iowa · this page$798.73
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$1,002.83+$204.10
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,007.45+$208.72
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$921.72+$122.99
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$892.99+$94.26
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$1,004.03+$205.30
  7. Alaska · Alaska$973.74+$175.01

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

Every other payment area

31626 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$772.11$167.14
ArkansasArkansas$759.72$165.81
ArizonaArizona$844.76$174.79
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$935.93$178.16
Chico, CACalifornia$934.61$176.83
El Centro, CACalifornia$934.68$176.91
Fresno, CACalifornia$934.61$176.83
Hanford, CACalifornia$934.61$176.83

31626 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.

$759.72

$1,066.38

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

View every state and territory as a table
31626 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$973.741
AL$772.111
AR$759.721
AZ$844.761
CA$934.61–$1,198.1529
CO$914.291
CT$931.071
DC$1,007.451
DE$859.851
FL$844.81–$921.723
GA$793.68–$884.402
GU$962.901
HI$962.901
IA$798.731
ID$803.481
IL$814.41–$901.304
IN$808.771
KS$792.301
KY$787.431
LA$785.15–$828.502
MA$907.03–$1,014.162
MD$878.22–$1,007.453
ME$805.67–$857.462
MI$808.03–$854.052
MN$880.181
MO$768.65–$834.543
MS$764.471
MT$869.401
NC$815.381
ND$860.701
NE$804.271
NH$897.411
NJ$942.87–$994.842
NM$812.001
NV$867.701
NY$828.69–$1,027.665
OH$806.251
OK$788.311
OR$862.15–$948.452
PA$808.96–$904.382
PR$877.211
RI$894.261
SC$811.931
SD$859.671
TN$796.421
TX$802.91–$910.208
UT$824.281
VA$852.74–$1,007.452
VI$877.211
VT$854.891
WA$906.12–$1,038.232
WI$828.701
WV$780.461
WY$865.601

See 31626 in every payment locality

How the 31626 rate is calculated

Each of 31626’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 · 31626

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.81

3.81 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense21.78

21.78 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.44

0.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

26.0300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$869.43

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

The exact Iowa inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,635

Code
31626
Physician work
3.81
Practice expense
21.78
Malpractice
0.44

GPCI2026.csv

53

Locality
Iowa
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.915
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 31626 in Iowa
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.81× 1.0003.8100
Practice expense21.78× 0.91519.9287
Malpractice0.44× 0.3970.1747
Total RVUs23.9134
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Iowa$798.73

Office: (3.81 × 1 + 21.78 × 0.915 + 0.44 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $798.73

Facility: (3.81 × 1 + 1.08 × 0.915 + 0.44 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $166.10

Open 31626 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31626

The CMS indicators that decide how 31626 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31626

Fiducial placement, bronchoscopic markers

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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
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

31626 without 51 · national office

$869.43

Fiducial placement, bronchoscopic markers

31626-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$434.72

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 31626

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

Codes related to 31626
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Iowa
Often billed with
31627Navigational bronchoscopy, computer-assisted image guidanceNavigational guidance may be performed during the same bronchoscopy to reach the marker target.$1,059.21
31628Lung biopsy, single lobeLung tissue sampling may accompany marker placement when a distinct biopsy is performed.$377.88
31625Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue samplingAirway biopsy may be performed during the same session when a separate airway lesion is sampled.$354.87

How 31626 has changed in Iowa

31626 · Office / nonfacility

$798.73

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $119.99 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $678.74 to $798.73 (17.7%).

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

    $678.74changed to$798.73

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.91 changed to 3.81
    • Practice expense RVU 18.46 changed to 21.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.915
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.457 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $716.72changed to$678.74

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 19.07 changed to 18.46
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.48

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $705.02changed to$716.72

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $733.62changed to$705.02

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 19.28 changed to 19.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.46
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.910 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.441 changed to 0.457

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $774.89changed to$733.62

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 20.18 changed to 19.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.910
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.425 changed to 0.441

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $807.73changed to$774.89

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 21.01 changed to 20.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.42

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $785.51changed to$807.73

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 19.49 changed to 21.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.43
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.424 changed to 0.425

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $787.97changed to$785.51

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 19.59 changed to 19.49
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.42
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.423 changed to 0.424

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $792.81changed to$787.97

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 19.76 changed to 19.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.44

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $781.07changed to$792.81

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 19.57 changed to 19.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.45
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.458 changed to 0.423

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $839.28changed to$781.07

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 4.16 changed to 3.91
    • Practice expense RVU 21.26 changed to 19.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.493 changed to 0.458

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $419.42changed to$839.28

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.12 changed to 21.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.47

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $417.33changed to$419.42

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $412.95changed to$417.33

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.10 changed to 8.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.48
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.475 changed to 0.493

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $423.38changed to$412.95

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 9.18 changed to 8.10
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.887 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.456 changed to 0.475

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $423.38

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$798.73$166.10RVU26D
2026-07-01$798.73$166.10RVU26C
2026-04-01$798.73$166.10RVU26B
2026-01-01$798.73$166.10RVU26A
2025-10-01$678.74$176.39RVU25D
2025-07-01$678.74$176.39RVU25C
2025-04-01$678.74$176.39RVU25B
2025-01-01$678.74$176.39RVU25A
2024-10-01$716.72$180.00RVU24D
2024-07-01$716.72$180.00RVU24C
2024-04-01$716.72$180.00RVU24B
2024-03-09$716.72$180.00RVU24AR
2024-01-01$705.02$177.07RVU24A
2023-10-01$733.62$181.63RVU23D
2023-07-01$733.62$181.63RVU23C
2023-04-01$733.62$181.63RVU23B
2023-01-01$733.62$181.63RVU23A
2022-10-01$774.89$185.74RVU22D
2022-07-01$774.89$185.74RVU22C
2022-04-01$774.89$185.74RVU22B
2022-01-01$774.89$185.74RVU22A
2021-10-01$807.73$187.75RVU21D
2021-07-01$807.73$187.75RVU21C
2021-04-01$807.73$187.75RVU21B
2021-01-01$807.73$187.75RVU21A
2020-10-01$785.51$192.38RVU20D
2020-07-01$785.51$192.38RVU20C
2020-04-01$785.51$192.38RVU20B
2020-01-01$785.51$192.38RVU20A
2019-10-01$787.97$192.40RVU19D
2019-07-01$787.97$192.40RVU19C
2019-04-01$787.97$192.40RVU19B
2019-01-01$787.97$192.40RVU19A
2018-10-01$792.81$193.32RVU18D
2018-07-01$792.81$193.32RVU18C
2018-04-01$792.81$193.32RVU18B
2018-01-01$792.81$193.32RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$781.07$193.20RVU17D
2017-07-01$781.07$193.20RVU17C
2017-04-01$781.07$193.20RVU17B
2017-01-01$781.07$193.20RVU17A
2016-10-01$839.28$204.40RVU16D
2016-07-01$839.28$204.40RVU16C
2016-04-01$839.28$204.40RVU16B
2016-01-01$839.28$204.40RVU16A
2015-10-01$419.42$206.28RVU15D
2015-07-01$419.42$206.28RVU15C
2015-04-01$417.33$205.25RVU15B
2015-01-01$417.33$205.25RVU15A
2014-10-01$412.95$201.74RVU14D
2014-07-01$412.95$201.74RVU14C
2014-04-01$412.95$201.74RVU14B
2014-01-01$412.95$201.74RVU14A
2013-10-01$423.38$196.14RVU13D
2013-07-01$423.38$196.14RVU13C
2013-04-01$423.38$196.14RVU13B
2013-01-01$423.38$196.14RVU13AR

Price 31626 for an earlier date of service

Where the Iowa rate applies

Iowa is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1026 cities and communities in Iowa. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ackley
  • Ackworth
  • Adair
  • Adel
  • Afton
  • Agency
  • Ainsworth
  • Akron

Browse all communities in Iowa

31626 billing questions

Is 31626 reported once per marker?

No. The code includes placement of a single marker or multiple markers; document how many were placed and their locations.

How is 31626 different from navigational bronchoscopy?

31626 represents deployment of fiducial markers. 31627 represents navigational guidance to a bronchoscopic target; both services may be performed during the same procedure.

Can lung biopsy be reported with marker placement?

A distinct lung biopsy may be performed during the same bronchoscopy and considered under the applicable biopsy code. Document the tissue-sampling service separately from marker deployment.

Does the 0-day global period include same-day care?

Yes. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure's 0-day global period.

How does Medicare pay when other procedures are performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and the other procedures are paid at 50% under the standard multiple procedure reduction.

Can modifier 50 be used when markers are placed on both sides?

No. CMS identifies modifier 50 as inappropriate for this descriptor and anatomy.

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 31626PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,635 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for IowaGPCI2026.csv, line 53 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 31626 pays in Iowa?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 31626 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist