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Billing code 31560: Operative laryngoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports direct operative laryngoscopy with removal of arytenoid tissue, commonly to widen the airway in selected patients with impaired vocal-fold movement.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities13 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $263.87 for 31560 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 31560

Operative laryngoscopy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
5.31
Total RVUs
7.90
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$263.87

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 31560 → · 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 31560 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 31560 covers

An otolaryngologist performs this procedure through a direct laryngoscope to remove arytenoid cartilage or tissue. It is commonly used to enlarge the glottic airway for a patient with bilateral vocal-fold immobility or another condition restricting airflow at the posterior larynx. The service is generally performed in an operating room under anesthesia, with the surgeon documenting the indication and the tissue removed.

Report the code when arytenoidectomy is the operative service, rather than diagnostic inspection, biopsy, or removal of a laryngeal tumor. The operative report should identify the airway or laryngeal problem, the arytenoid work performed, and the surgical approach. CMS assigns 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 for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of 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 31560 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

31560 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$244.90
Alaska*Unavailable$344.61
ArizonaUnavailable$258.20
ArkansasUnavailable$242.59
AtlantaUnavailable$270.66
AustinUnavailable$264.70
BakersfieldUnavailable$262.69
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$277.35
BeaumontUnavailable$256.58
BrazoriaUnavailable$258.94

31560 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
31560 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 31560 rate is calculated

Each of 31560’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 · 31560

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 5.31Practice expense 1.80Malpractice 0.79

7.9000 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$263.87

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 31560

The CMS indicators that decide how 31560 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31560

Operative laryngoscopy

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

31560 without 51 · national facility

$263.87

Operative laryngoscopy

31560-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$131.94

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

31560 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

31560 vs 31561 vs 31540 vs 31575: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 31560
    Operative laryngoscopy · 5.31 wRVU
    —
  • 31561
    Arytenoidectomy · 5.84 wRVU
    —
  • 31540
    Laryngeal excision · 4.02 wRVU
    —
  • 31575
    Laryngoscopy · 0.92 wRVU
    $127.26

How to choose

31561Arytenoidectomy
This is the close sibling for arytenoidectomy when an operating microscope or telescope is used. Code 31560 describes the operative service without that scope distinction.
31540Laryngeal excision
31540 is for operative laryngoscopic excision of a tumor; 31560 is for removal of arytenoid tissue.
31575Laryngoscopy
31575 is diagnostic laryngoscopy for examination. It does not describe the operative arytenoidectomy performed under 31560.

Codes related to 31560

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

Codes related to 31560
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
31561ArytenoidectomyArytenoidectomy through operative laryngoscopy with an operating microscope or telescope.No office rate
Used instead
31540Laryngeal excisionUse for operative laryngoscopic excision of a laryngeal tumor rather than arytenoidectomy.No office rate
31535Laryngeal biopsyUse when the operative laryngoscopy includes biopsy rather than arytenoid removal.No office rate
31575LaryngoscopyDiagnostic laryngoscopy for examination without the operative arytenoidectomy.$112.15–$169.37

31560 billing questions

How does 31560 differ from 31561?

Both describe operative laryngoscopy with arytenoidectomy. Use 31561 when the procedure includes an operating microscope or telescope; 31560 is the code without that added scope distinction.

When would 31540 be more appropriate?

31540 describes operative laryngoscopy with excision of a laryngeal tumor. Choose 31560 when the operative work is arytenoidectomy, not tumor excision.

Can diagnostic laryngoscopy be reported separately on the same date?

The direct laryngoscopic examination is integral to performing the operative arytenoidectomy. A separate diagnostic laryngoscopy such as 31575 should not be reported for the inspection that is part of the same operative service.

How are related endoscopies priced when performed together?

CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed in the same session. The code's 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

Can modifier 50 be used, or can an assistant be billed?

Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; 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 31560PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,601 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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