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Billing code 31561: ArytenoidectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports operative direct laryngoscopy with arytenoid cartilage removal using an operating microscope or telescope, commonly to widen the laryngeal airway.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities156 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $287.92 for 31561 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 31561

Arytenoidectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
5.84
Total RVUs
8.62
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$287.92

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 31561 → · 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 31561 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 31561 covers

An otolaryngologist performs an operative direct examination of the larynx and removes arytenoid cartilage tissue while viewing through an operating microscope or telescope. The procedure is commonly used to enlarge the posterior glottic airway in patients with bilateral vocal-fold immobility or posterior glottic narrowing, and is typically performed in an operating room.

Report 31561 when an arytenoidectomy is performed with the specified optical equipment; the operative note should describe the indication, side and extent of removal, and use of the microscope or telescope. Choose 31560 for arytenoidectomy without that equipment. 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. Do not append modifier 50. 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 31561 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

31561 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$267.54
Alaska*Unavailable$376.89
ArizonaUnavailable$281.83
ArkansasUnavailable$265.06
AtlantaUnavailable$295.24
AustinUnavailable$288.81
BakersfieldUnavailable$286.71
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$302.47
BeaumontUnavailable$280.10
BrazoriaUnavailable$282.65

31561 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
31561 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 31561 rate is calculated

Each of 31561’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 · 31561

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 5.84Practice expense 1.93Malpractice 0.85

8.6200 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$287.92

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 31561

The CMS indicators that decide how 31561 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 31561

Arytenoidectomy

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

31561 without 51 · national facility

$287.92

Arytenoidectomy

31561-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$143.96

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

31561 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

31561 vs 31560 vs 31535 vs 31540 vs 31545: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 31561
    Arytenoidectomy · 5.84 wRVU
    —
  • 31560
    Operative laryngoscopy · 5.31 wRVU
    —
  • 31535
    Laryngeal biopsy · 3.08 wRVU
    —
  • 31540
    Laryngeal excision · 4.02 wRVU
    —
  • 31545
    Vocal cord excision · 6.14 wRVU
    —

How to choose

31560Operative laryngoscopy
Both include operative laryngoscopy with arytenoidectomy. The distinguishing feature for 31561 is use of an operating microscope or telescope.
31535Laryngeal biopsy
31535 is for operative laryngoscopy with biopsy. Use 31561 when arytenoid cartilage is removed with the specified optical equipment.
31540Laryngeal excision
31540 describes excision of a laryngeal tumor; 31561 describes arytenoidectomy. Select based on the operative target and service performed.
31545Vocal cord excision
31545 addresses removal of a vocal-cord lesion. It is not the code for removal of arytenoid cartilage.

Codes related to 31561

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

Codes related to 31561
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
31560Operative laryngoscopyArytenoidectomy without use of an operating microscope or telescope.No office rate
Used instead
31535Laryngeal biopsyOperative laryngoscopy with biopsy when tissue sampling, rather than arytenoidectomy, is performed.No office rate
31540Laryngeal excisionOperative laryngoscopy for tumor excision rather than arytenoid cartilage removal.No office rate
31545Vocal cord excisionUsed for vocal-cord lesion removal, a different operative target from the arytenoid.No office rate

31561 billing questions

How does 31561 differ from 31560?

Both describe operative laryngoscopy with arytenoidectomy. Use 31561 when an operating microscope or telescope is used; 31560 describes the procedure without that equipment.

What documentation supports 31561?

The operative report should establish that arytenoid cartilage was removed and that an operating microscope or telescope was used. Include the indication and the side and extent of the procedure.

Can the laryngoscopic examination be billed separately?

The direct laryngoscopic view is how the arytenoidectomy is performed. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies.

Should modifier 50 be reported for bilateral work?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so do not append modifier 50.

When is assistant-at-surgery payment available?

CMS allows assistant-at-surgery payment only when medical necessity is documented. 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 31561PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,602 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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