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CPT code 31629: Bronchoscopic biopsy, needle aspiration biopsy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports bronchoscopic needle sampling of the tracheobronchial tree or mediastinum, such as aspiration biopsy of a mediastinal or hilar target.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality31K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $569.53 for 31629 in the office and $182.36 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$569.53Office (non-facility)
$182.36Hospital or facility
+14.6%vs the national office rate ($497.01)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 31629 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 31629 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 31629 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 31629 covers

A pulmonologist, interventional pulmonologist, or thoracic surgeon passes a needle through a rigid or flexible bronchoscope to obtain tissue or cellular material from the tracheobronchial tree or mediastinum. Common targets include mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes and peribronchial lesions. The specimen may be sent for cytology or histopathology after bronchoscopy in a hospital or outpatient procedural setting.

Report 31629 for the initial needle-biopsy service; when additional lobes are sampled, 31633 is the related add-on code. The procedure note should identify the sampled target and lobe and describe the needle sampling performed. This is a minor procedure with 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 for 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 31629

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 31629 runs from $440.03 in Arkansas to $665.20 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $569.53. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

31629 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$569.53
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$564.36−$5.17
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$530.26−$39.27
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$515.25−$54.28
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$570.64+$1.11
  6. Alaska · Alaska$576.31+$6.78
  7. Alabama · Alabama$446.45−$123.08

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

Every other payment area

31629 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$440.03$157.71
ArizonaArizona$484.03$165.55
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$529.45$169.23
Chico, CACalifornia$528.33$168.11
El Centro, CACalifornia$528.39$168.17
Fresno, CACalifornia$528.33$168.11
Hanford, CACalifornia$528.33$168.11
Madera, CACalifornia$528.33$168.11

31629 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.

$440.03

$596.77

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

View every state and territory as a table
31629 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$576.311
AL$446.451
AR$440.031
AZ$484.031
CA$528.33–$665.2029
CO$519.051
CT$529.911
DC$569.531
DE$492.051
FL$487.09–$530.263
GA$460.14–$505.592
GU$541.641
HI$541.641
IA$458.921
ID$461.651
IL$472.22–$516.944
IN$464.351
KS$456.221
KY$455.721
LA$454.79–$477.242
MA$515.75–$571.072
MD$501.59–$569.533
ME$463.44–$489.302
MI$467.00–$492.562
MN$499.061
MO$446.64–$479.623
MS$443.451
MT$496.981
NC$468.361
ND$489.861
NE$461.601
NH$510.371
NJ$536.43–$563.562
NM$469.321
NV$495.361
NY$475.30–$583.695
OH$465.541
OK$455.511
OR$491.98–$536.152
PA$466.60–$516.402
PR$500.821
RI$510.001
SC$467.631
SD$489.021
TN$458.431
TX$463.51–$516.928
UT$474.011
VA$487.30–$569.532
VI$500.821
VT$487.441
WA$514.95–$583.262
WI$473.451
WV$454.671
WY$493.881

See 31629 in every payment locality

How the 31629 rate is calculated

Each of 31629’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 · 31629

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.66

3.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense10.86

10.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.36

0.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

14.8800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$497.01

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

3,638

Code
31629
Physician work
3.66
Practice expense
10.86
Malpractice
0.36

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 31629 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.66× 1.0543.8576
Practice expense10.86× 1.17812.7931
Malpractice0.36× 1.1130.4007
Total RVUs17.0514
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$569.53

Office: (3.66 × 1.054 + 10.86 × 1.178 + 0.36 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $569.53

Facility: (3.66 × 1.054 + 1.02 × 1.178 + 0.36 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $182.36

Open 31629 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 31629

The CMS indicators that decide how 31629 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31629

Bronchoscopic biopsy, needle aspiration biopsy

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

31629 without 51 · national office

$497.01

Bronchoscopic biopsy, needle aspiration biopsy

31629-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$248.51

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 31629

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

Codes related to 31629
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Primary code
31633Bronchoscopic needle biopsy, each additional lobeAdd-on for needle biopsy in each additional lobe.$95.91
Used instead
31628Lung biopsy, single lobeUsed for transbronchial lung biopsy rather than needle aspiration biopsy.$466.16
31625Bronchoscopy biopsy, airway tissue samplingUsed for bronchoscopic biopsy of airway tissue rather than needle sampling.$439.28
31652EBUS node sampling, one or two stationsFor EBUS-guided sampling of one or two mediastinal or hilar node stations.$1,577.72

How 31629 has changed in Washington, DC area

31629 · Office / nonfacility

$569.53

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $73.38 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $496.15 to $569.53 (14.8%).

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

    $496.15changed to$569.53

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.75 changed to 3.66
    • Practice expense RVU 9.19 changed to 10.86
    • 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

    $519.32changed to$496.15

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 9.41 changed to 9.19

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $510.84changed to$519.32

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $536.73changed to$510.84

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 9.43 changed to 9.41
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.36
    • 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

    $570.74changed to$536.73

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 9.80 changed to 9.43
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.35
    • 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

    $573.70changed to$570.74

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 9.78 changed to 9.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.33

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $544.03changed to$573.70

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.80 changed to 9.78
    • 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

    $525.79changed to$544.03

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.51 changed to 8.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.31
    • 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

    $516.52changed to$525.79

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.32 changed to 8.51
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.33

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $514.19changed to$516.52

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.27 changed to 8.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.32
    • 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

    $590.26changed to$514.19

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 4.00 changed to 3.75
    • Practice expense RVU 9.81 changed to 8.27
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.34
    • 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

    $704.91changed to$590.26

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Work RVU 4.09 changed to 4.00
    • Practice expense RVU 12.33 changed to 9.81

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $701.40changed to$704.91

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $698.57changed to$701.40

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 12.32 changed to 12.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.36
    • 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

    $737.83changed to$698.57

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 14.20 changed to 12.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.33
    • 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: $737.83

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$569.53$182.36RVU26D
2026-07-01$569.53$182.36RVU26C
2026-04-01$569.53$182.36RVU26B
2026-01-01$569.53$182.36RVU26A
2025-10-01$496.15$195.02RVU25D
2025-07-01$496.15$195.02RVU25C
2025-04-01$496.15$195.02RVU25B
2025-01-01$496.15$195.02RVU25A
2024-10-01$519.32$199.90RVU24D
2024-07-01$519.32$199.90RVU24C
2024-04-01$519.32$199.90RVU24B
2024-03-09$519.32$199.90RVU24AR
2024-01-01$510.84$196.64RVU24A
2023-10-01$536.73$203.51RVU23D
2023-07-01$536.73$203.51RVU23C
2023-04-01$536.73$203.51RVU23B
2023-01-01$536.73$203.51RVU23A
2022-10-01$570.74$209.73RVU22D
2022-07-01$570.74$209.73RVU22C
2022-04-01$570.74$209.73RVU22B
2022-01-01$570.74$209.73RVU22A
2021-10-01$573.70$210.57RVU21D
2021-07-01$573.70$210.57RVU21C
2021-04-01$573.70$210.57RVU21B
2021-01-01$573.70$210.57RVU21A
2020-10-01$544.03$213.98RVU20D
2020-07-01$544.03$213.98RVU20C
2020-04-01$544.03$213.98RVU20B
2020-01-01$544.03$213.98RVU20A
2019-10-01$525.79$212.68RVU19D
2019-07-01$525.79$212.68RVU19C
2019-04-01$525.79$212.68RVU19B
2019-01-01$525.79$212.68RVU19A
2018-10-01$516.52$212.86RVU18D
2018-07-01$516.52$212.86RVU18C
2018-04-01$516.52$212.86RVU18B
2018-01-01$516.52$212.86RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$514.19$214.07RVU17D
2017-07-01$514.19$214.07RVU17C
2017-04-01$514.19$214.07RVU17B
2017-01-01$514.19$214.07RVU17A
2016-10-01$590.26$226.99RVU16D
2016-07-01$590.26$226.99RVU16C
2016-04-01$590.26$226.99RVU16B
2016-01-01$590.26$226.99RVU16A
2015-10-01$704.91$234.24RVU15D
2015-07-01$704.91$234.24RVU15C
2015-04-01$701.40$233.07RVU15B
2015-01-01$701.40$233.07RVU15A
2014-10-01$698.57$231.38RVU14D
2014-07-01$698.57$231.38RVU14C
2014-04-01$698.57$231.38RVU14B
2014-01-01$698.57$231.38RVU14A
2013-10-01$737.83$225.89RVU13D
2013-07-01$737.83$225.89RVU13C
2013-04-01$737.83$225.89RVU13B
2013-01-01$737.83$225.89RVU13AR

Price 31629 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

31629 billing questions

How does 31629 differ from 31628?

31629 is for needle aspiration biopsy of the tracheobronchial tree or mediastinum. 31628 is for transbronchial lung biopsy, so use the code that matches the sampling method and target documented.

When is 31633 reported with 31629?

31633 is the add-on for needle biopsy in each additional lobe. The documentation should identify the additional lobe sampled; additional needle passes alone do not establish another lobe.

Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral sampling?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 31629, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.

How is 31629 distinguished from EBUS-guided node sampling?

For EBUS-guided sampling of one or two mediastinal or hilar lymph node stations, compare 31652. Select the code that reflects the documented guidance and service performed.

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

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 31629. 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 31629PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,638 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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