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

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 Austin, TX, Medicare pays $910.20 for 31626 in the office and $178.70 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$910.20Office (non-facility)
$178.70Hospital or facility
+4.7%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 Austin, TX
  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 Austin, TX 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. Austin, TX pays $910.20. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31626 in Austin, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Austin, TX · this page$910.20
  2. Beaumont, TX · Texas$802.91−$107.29
  3. Brazoria, TX · Texas$860.66−$49.54
  4. Dallas, TX · Texas$865.57−$44.63
  5. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$858.49−$51.71
  6. Galveston, TX · Texas$862.82−$47.38
  7. Houston, TX · Texas$870.88−$39.32

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

Every other payment area

31626 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$830.90$174.76
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$1,002.83$184.91
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$1,007.45$192.98
Miami, FLFlorida$921.72$201.98
Chicago, ILIllinois$892.99$198.13
Manhattan, NYNew York$1,004.03$200.63
AlaskaAlaska$973.74$237.40
AlabamaAlabama$772.11$167.14

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 Austin, TX 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

96

Locality
Austin, TX
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office calculation for 31626 in Austin, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.81× 1.0023.8176
Practice expense21.78× 1.05823.0432
Malpractice0.44× 0.8860.3898
Total RVUs27.2507
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Austin, TX$910.20

Office: (3.81 × 1.002 + 21.78 × 1.058 + 0.44 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $910.20

Facility: (3.81 × 1.002 + 1.08 × 1.058 + 0.44 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $178.70

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, Austin, TX
Often billed with
31627Navigational bronchoscopy, computer-assisted image guidanceNavigational guidance may be performed during the same bronchoscopy to reach the marker target.$1,217.55
31628Lung biopsy, single lobeLung tissue sampling may accompany marker placement when a distinct biopsy is performed.$423.82
31625Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue samplingAirway biopsy may be performed during the same session when a separate airway lesion is sampled.$399.00

How 31626 has changed in Austin, TX

31626 · Office / nonfacility

$910.20

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $144.95 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $765.25 to $910.20 (18.9%).

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

    $765.25changed to$910.20

    • 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
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.914 changed to 0.886

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $808.14changed to$765.25

    • 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

    $794.95changed to$808.14

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $831.31changed to$794.95

    • 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 1.053 changed to 1.046
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.727 changed to 0.914

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $882.70changed to$831.31

    • 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 1.059 changed to 1.053
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.539 changed to 0.727

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $920.88changed to$882.70

    • 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

    $882.38changed to$920.88

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.040 changed to 1.059
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.643 changed to 0.539

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $873.59changed to$882.38

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.040
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.747 changed to 0.643

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $879.15changed to$873.59

    • 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

    $868.67changed to$879.15

    • 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 1.020 changed to 1.021
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.747

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $937.50changed to$868.67

    • 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 1.019 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.766 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $460.02changed to$937.50

    • 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

    $457.73changed to$460.02

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $451.41changed to$457.73

    • 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 1.014 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.759 changed to 0.766

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $464.60changed to$451.41

    • 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 1.009 changed to 1.014
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.751 changed to 0.759

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $464.60

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$910.20$178.70RVU26D
2026-07-01$910.20$178.70RVU26C
2026-04-01$910.20$178.70RVU26B
2026-01-01$910.20$178.70RVU26A
2025-10-01$765.25$189.73RVU25D
2025-07-01$765.25$189.73RVU25C
2025-04-01$765.25$189.73RVU25B
2025-01-01$765.25$189.73RVU25A
2024-10-01$808.14$193.24RVU24D
2024-07-01$808.14$193.24RVU24C
2024-04-01$808.14$193.24RVU24B
2024-03-09$808.14$193.24RVU24AR
2024-01-01$794.95$190.09RVU24A
2023-10-01$831.31$192.58RVU23D
2023-07-01$831.31$192.58RVU23C
2023-04-01$831.31$192.58RVU23B
2023-01-01$831.31$192.58RVU23A
2022-10-01$882.70$194.82RVU22D
2022-07-01$882.70$194.82RVU22C
2022-04-01$882.70$194.82RVU22B
2022-01-01$882.70$194.82RVU22A
2021-10-01$920.88$196.99RVU21D
2021-07-01$920.88$196.99RVU21C
2021-04-01$920.88$196.99RVU21B
2021-01-01$920.88$196.99RVU21A
2020-10-01$882.38$202.28RVU20D
2020-07-01$882.38$202.28RVU20C
2020-04-01$882.38$202.28RVU20B
2020-01-01$882.38$202.28RVU20A
2019-10-01$873.59$203.17RVU19D
2019-07-01$873.59$203.17RVU19C
2019-04-01$873.59$203.17RVU19B
2019-01-01$873.59$203.17RVU19A
2018-10-01$879.15$204.32RVU18D
2018-07-01$879.15$204.32RVU18C
2018-04-01$879.15$204.32RVU18B
2018-01-01$879.15$204.32RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$868.67$203.89RVU17D
2017-07-01$868.67$203.89RVU17C
2017-04-01$868.67$203.89RVU17B
2017-01-01$868.67$203.89RVU17A
2016-10-01$937.50$215.47RVU16D
2016-07-01$937.50$215.47RVU16C
2016-04-01$937.50$215.47RVU16B
2016-01-01$937.50$215.47RVU16A
2015-10-01$460.02$217.62RVU15D
2015-07-01$460.02$217.62RVU15C
2015-04-01$457.73$216.54RVU15B
2015-01-01$457.73$216.54RVU15A
2014-10-01$451.41$211.30RVU14D
2014-07-01$451.41$211.30RVU14C
2014-04-01$451.41$211.30RVU14B
2014-01-01$451.41$211.30RVU14A
2013-10-01$464.60$206.10RVU13D
2013-07-01$464.60$206.10RVU13C
2013-04-01$464.60$206.10RVU13B
2013-01-01$464.60$206.10RVU13AR

Price 31626 for an earlier date of service

Where the Austin, TX rate applies

Austin, TX is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Texas

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 Austin, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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