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Billing code 31529: Laryngeal dilationMedicare rate & RVUs

Direct laryngoscopy with dilation treats persistent or recurrent laryngeal narrowing during a subsequent procedure in a dilation series.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities629 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $137.95 for 31529 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 31529

Laryngeal dilation

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
2.61
Total RVUs
4.13
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$137.95

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 31529 → · 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 31529 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 31529 covers

An otolaryngologist uses direct laryngoscopy to examine the larynx and dilate a narrowed area, commonly for persistent or recurrent stenosis after an earlier dilation. The service is typically performed in an operating room, often under general anesthesia. This code identifies a subsequent dilation procedure in the treatment series, rather than the initial dilation represented by its sibling code.

Report the subsequent-service code when the operative record supports that the patient is returning for another dilation procedure; document the laryngeal finding, dilation performed, and relevant prior treatment. The procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care are included. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. 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.

Where 31529 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

31529 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$127.68
Alaska*Unavailable$178.31
ArizonaUnavailable$134.94
ArkansasUnavailable$126.42
AtlantaUnavailable$141.37
AustinUnavailable$138.88
BakersfieldUnavailable$138.29
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$145.13
BeaumontUnavailable$133.62
BrazoriaUnavailable$135.51

31529 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
31529 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 31529 rate is calculated

Each of 31529’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 · 31529

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 2.61Practice expense 1.14Malpractice 0.38

4.1300 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$137.95

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 31529

The CMS indicators that decide how 31529 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31529

Laryngeal dilation

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)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

31529 without 51 · national facility

$137.95

Laryngeal dilation

31529-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$68.98

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

31529 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

31529 vs 31528 vs 31525 vs 31551: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 31529
    Laryngeal dilation · 2.61 wRVU
    —
  • 31528
    Laryngoscopy dilation · 2.31 wRVU
    —
  • 31525
    Laryngoscopy · 2.56 wRVU
    $251.17
  • 31551
    Laryngoplasty · 20.96 wRVU
    —

How to choose

31528Laryngoscopy dilation
31528 identifies the initial laryngeal dilation in a treatment series; 31529 identifies a subsequent dilation procedure.
31525Laryngoscopy
31525 is diagnostic laryngoscopy. Choose 31529 when direct laryngoscopy includes therapeutic dilation of laryngeal narrowing.
31551Laryngoplasty
31551 is laryngoplasty for laryngeal stenosis, a reconstructive procedure; 31529 is endoscopic dilation.

Codes related to 31529

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

Codes related to 31529
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
31528Laryngoscopy dilationSibling code for the initial laryngeal dilation procedure.No office rate
Used instead
31527Therapeutic laryngoscopyUse for laryngoscopy with treatment when the service is not the subsequent dilation described here.No office rate
31551LaryngoplastyLaryngoplasty may be selected for reconstructive treatment of laryngeal stenosis rather than dilation.No office rate

31529 billing questions

How does this code differ from 31528?

31529 is for a subsequent laryngeal dilation procedure in a treatment series. Use 31528 for the initial dilation.

Does a second dilation during the same operation make this the subsequent code?

No. The distinction is between the initial and a subsequent procedure in the treatment series, not the number of dilation maneuvers during one operation.

Can diagnostic laryngoscopy be separately reported with the dilation?

The laryngoscopic visualization used to perform the dilation is part of the service. Do not separately report a diagnostic laryngoscopy for that same operative inspection.

Should modifier 50 be appended for dilation on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

What documentation supports reporting a subsequent dilation?

Document the laryngeal narrowing, the direct laryngoscopy and dilation performed, and the prior treatment supporting that this is a subsequent procedure in the series.

When may an assistant-at-surgery be paid?

Only when the record documents medical necessity for the assistant. CMS does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery payment for this code.

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 31529PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,587 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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