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Billing code 31032: Maxillary sinus surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs

Open maxillary sinus surgery with removal of an antrochoanal polyp, reported when the surgeon uses a Caldwell-Luc approach rather than an endoscopic route.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities97 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $551.78 for 31032 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 31032

Maxillary sinus surgery

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
6.52
Total RVUs
16.52
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$551.78

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 31032 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 31032 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 31032 covers

An otolaryngologist performs an open Caldwell-Luc operation to enter the maxillary sinus and remove an antrochoanal polyp. These polyps arise in the maxillary sinus and may extend toward the nasal cavity or choana. The surgeon documents the maxillary sinus approach and the polyp removal; this is distinct from transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery. The procedure is generally performed in a surgical facility, consistent with Medicare’s 2024 claims showing facility services for this code.

Select this code when the operative report supports the open radical maxillary sinus approach and removal of the polyp. Medicare treats it as major surgery with a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. For bilateral surgery reported with modifier 50, payment is at 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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.

Where 31032 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

31032 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$500.43
Alaska*Unavailable$666.41
ArizonaUnavailable$537.92
ArkansasUnavailable$494.00
AtlantaUnavailable$563.53
AustinUnavailable$566.25
BakersfieldUnavailable$572.86
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$584.74
BeaumontUnavailable$522.31
BrazoriaUnavailable$543.96

31032 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
31032 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 31032 rate is calculated

Each of 31032’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 · 31032

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 6.52Practice expense 9.07Malpractice 0.93

16.5200 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$551.78

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 31032

31032 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 31032

Maxillary sinus surgery

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
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.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.76/0.14Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 31032

Maxillary sinus surgery

90-day global period ends

Dec 30, 2026

Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

31032 without 50 · national facility

$551.78

Maxillary sinus surgery

31032-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$827.67

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

31032 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

31032 vs 31030 vs 31267 vs 31256: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 31032
    Maxillary sinus surgery · 6.52 wRVU
    —
  • 31030
    Sinus exploration · 5.86 wRVU
    $652.32
  • 31267
    Sinus endoscopy · 4.56 wRVU
    —
  • 31256
    Maxillary antrostomy · 3.03 wRVU
    —

How to choose

31030Sinus exploration
Both use a radical Caldwell-Luc approach. The distinction is whether an antrochoanal polyp is removed: removal supports 31032; no polyp removal supports 31030.
31267Sinus endoscopy
31267 is performed endoscopically through the nasal route and includes tissue removal from the maxillary sinus. 31032 describes the open Caldwell-Luc approach with polyp removal.
31256Maxillary antrostomy
31256 describes endoscopic maxillary antrostomy without tissue removal. 31032 is an open Caldwell-Luc operation that includes removal of an antrochoanal polyp.

Codes related to 31032

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

Codes related to 31032
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
31030Sinus explorationRadical Caldwell-Luc maxillary sinus surgery without removal of an antrochoanal polyp.$578.98–$852.06
Used instead
31020Maxillary sinusotomyMaxillary sinusotomy using an intranasal approach rather than the open Caldwell-Luc route.$380.81–$578.41
31267Sinus endoscopyEndoscopic maxillary antrostomy with tissue removal, rather than open Caldwell-Luc surgery.No office rate
31256Maxillary antrostomyEndoscopic maxillary antrostomy without tissue removal.No office rate

31032 billing questions

How does this differ from 31030?

Both describe a radical Caldwell-Luc approach to the maxillary sinus. Use 31032 when the surgeon also removes an antrochoanal polyp; 31030 is the corresponding procedure without polyp removal.

When is 31267 a better fit?

31267 describes endoscopic maxillary antrostomy with tissue removal. Use 31032 for the open Caldwell-Luc approach with polyp removal, not an endoscopic route.

What documentation supports 31032?

The operative report should identify the open Caldwell-Luc approach, the maxillary sinus treated, and removal of an antrochoanal polyp.

How is bilateral surgery reported?

For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; Medicare payment is at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. 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 31032PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,498 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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