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Billing code 31276: Frontal sinus endoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports endoscopic surgical exploration of the frontal sinus, with removal of tissue when performed, commonly for obstructed frontal sinus drainage.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities12.5K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $317.98 for 31276 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 31276

Frontal sinus endoscopy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
6.58
Total RVUs
9.52
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$317.98

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 31276 → · 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 31276 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 31276 covers

An otolaryngologist, often a rhinologist, uses an endoscope through the nasal cavity to surgically access and explore the frontal sinus. The procedure is commonly performed in an operating room for chronic frontal sinusitis or an obstructed frontal drainage pathway; tissue such as inflammatory tissue may be removed when indicated. The code represents frontal sinus work, not ethmoidectomy or balloon dilation alone.

Report it when the operative note supports surgical frontal sinus exploration and identifies the side treated; document any tissue removal and additional sinus procedures performed. A 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS applies endoscopy family pricing. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. CMS 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.

Where 31276 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

31276 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$295.79
Alaska*Unavailable$417.77
ArizonaUnavailable$311.31
ArkansasUnavailable$293.10
AtlantaUnavailable$326.14
AustinUnavailable$318.60
BakersfieldUnavailable$315.96
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$333.92
BeaumontUnavailable$309.75
BrazoriaUnavailable$312.09

31276 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
31276 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 31276 rate is calculated

Each of 31276’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 · 31276

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 6.58Practice expense 1.98Malpractice 0.96

9.5200 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$317.98

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 31276

The CMS indicators that decide how 31276 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31276

Frontal sinus endoscopy

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)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.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

31276 without 50 · national facility

$317.98

Frontal sinus endoscopy

31276-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$476.97

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

31276 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

31276 vs 31253 vs 31296 vs 31255: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 31276
    Frontal sinus endoscopy · 6.58 wRVU
    —
  • 31253
    Sinus endoscopy · 8.78 wRVU
    —
  • 31296
    Sinus dilation · 3.02 wRVU
    $1,603.24
  • 31255
    Ethmoidectomy · 5.61 wRVU
    —

How to choose

31253Sinus endoscopy
31253 includes total ethmoidectomy with frontal sinus exploration. This code represents the frontal sinus work without that combined total ethmoidectomy service.
31296Sinus dilation
31296 is for frontal sinus dilation using a dilation device. This code represents surgical exploration of the frontal sinus, with tissue removal when performed.
31255Ethmoidectomy
31255 describes total ethmoidectomy without the frontal sinus exploration represented here.

Codes related to 31276

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

Codes related to 31276
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
31253Sinus endoscopyUse when the frontal sinus exploration is performed with a total ethmoidectomy.No office rate
31296Sinus dilationDescribes endoscopic frontal sinus dilation rather than surgical frontal sinus exploration.$1,386.47–$2,265.38
Often billed with
31267Sinus endoscopyMay describe distinct maxillary sinus surgery performed during the same operative session.No office rate

31276 billing questions

How does this differ from 31253?

31276 covers frontal sinus exploration. Use 31253 when the operative service also includes a total ethmoidectomy with the frontal sinus work.

When is 31296 more appropriate?

31296 describes endoscopic dilation of the frontal sinus with a dilation device. This code is for surgical frontal sinus exploration, with tissue removal when performed.

Can a separate sinus procedure be reported at the same operation?

A distinct procedure on another sinus may be reported when supported by the operative note. CMS applies endoscopy family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together.

How is bilateral frontal sinus surgery reported?

Report modifier 50 for bilateral surgery; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

What global period and assistant rules apply?

The code has a 0-day global period, which includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 31276PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,542 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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