Billing code 31525: LaryngoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $251.17 for 31525 nationally in the office and $137.61 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $223.45–$322.31.

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

What 31525 covers

An otolaryngologist uses a laryngoscope to directly inspect the larynx and, when needed, the trachea. The examination can help assess hoarseness, suspected vocal-fold abnormalities, or other laryngeal findings that need direct visualization. It is commonly performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgical setting, often with anesthesia, although the clinical setting depends on the patient and examination plan.

Report this code for a diagnostic direct examination in a patient who is not a newborn. The operative note should identify the indication, the structures examined, and whether tracheoscopy was performed. When the same session includes a separately coded operative laryngeal service, report the code describing that work rather than separately reporting the diagnostic examination. 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 31525 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

31525 rates by state

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

How the 31525 rate is calculated

Each of 31525’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 31525

The CMS indicators that decide how 31525 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

31525 compared with similar codes

How to choose

31505Laryngoscopy

31505 is an indirect diagnostic examination; 31525 is direct visualization with a laryngoscope.

31520Laryngoscopy

31520 is the diagnostic direct laryngoscopy code for a newborn; 31525 is for other patients.

31526Diagnostic laryngoscopy

31526 adds use of an operating microscope or telescope for the diagnostic direct examination; 31525 is the diagnostic direct examination without that distinction.

31535Laryngeal biopsy

31535 describes direct laryngoscopy with biopsy. When biopsy is performed, report the biopsy service rather than separately reporting the diagnostic examination.

Codes related to 31525

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates