Billing code 31615: Airway endoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports endoscopic examination of the trachea and bronchi performed through an existing tracheostomy, such as to assess airway patency or investigate obstruction.
Medicare pays $173.02 for 31615 nationally in the office and $101.87 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $154.18–$222.08.
Medicare rate · 31615
Airway endoscopy
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 1.79
- Total RVUs
- 5.18
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$173.02
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 31615 → · 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
What 31615 covers
The clinician passes a bronchoscope through an established tracheostomy opening to inspect the trachea and bronchi. Pulmonologists, otolaryngologists, and thoracic surgeons may perform the examination in a hospital, clinic, or bedside setting to assess airway patency, investigate suspected obstruction or bleeding, or evaluate concerns involving the tracheostomy airway. The existing opening is the access route; this service does not describe creating a tracheostomy.
Report 31615 when the documented endoscopic examination is performed through that established opening. The record should identify the route and the airway evaluation performed. This minor procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay for 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 31615 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$154.18 to $222.08
109 of 109 payment localities
31615 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.
$154.18
$205.98
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $205.98 | 1 |
| AL | $156.28 | 1 |
| AR | $154.18 | 1 |
| AZ | $168.56 | 1 |
| CA | $180.23–$222.08 | 29 |
| CO | $178.62 | 1 |
| CT | $184.04 | 1 |
| DC | $195.86 | 1 |
| DE | $171.21 | 1 |
| FL | $172.60–$190.08 | 3 |
| GA | $163.29–$176.55 | 2 |
| GU | $183.87 | 1 |
| HI | $183.87 | 1 |
| IA | $159.07 | 1 |
| ID | $160.23 | 1 |
| IL | $168.59–$184.77 | 4 |
| IN | $161.07 | 1 |
| KS | $158.81 | 1 |
| KY | $160.67 | 1 |
| LA | $160.60–$167.96 | 2 |
| MA | $177.84–$194.90 | 2 |
| MD | $174.19–$195.86 | 3 |
| ME | $161.47–$168.99 | 2 |
| MI | $164.97–$175.07 | 2 |
| MN | $170.18 | 1 |
| MO | $158.33–$168.00 | 3 |
| MS | $156.26 | 1 |
| MT | $173.00 | 1 |
| NC | $162.98 | 1 |
| ND | $168.06 | 1 |
| NE | $159.75 | 1 |
| NH | $176.27 | 1 |
| NJ | $185.87–$194.13 | 2 |
| NM | $165.99 | 1 |
| NV | $171.73 | 1 |
| NY | $165.29–$203.82 | 5 |
| OH | $163.96 | 1 |
| OK | $159.93 | 1 |
| OR | $170.12–$183.48 | 2 |
| PA | $163.96–$180.00 | 2 |
| PR | $174.05 | 1 |
| RI | $176.71 | 1 |
| SC | $163.79 | 1 |
| SD | $167.47 | 1 |
| TN | $159.61 | 1 |
| TX | $162.98–$178.27 | 8 |
| UT | $165.87 | 1 |
| VA | $168.78–$195.86 | 2 |
| VI | $174.05 | 1 |
| VT | $167.84 | 1 |
| WA | $177.36–$198.29 | 2 |
| WI | $162.83 | 1 |
| WV | $162.88 | 1 |
| WY | $170.85 | 1 |
How the 31615 rate is calculated
Each of 31615’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 · 31615
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.79Practice expense 3.14Malpractice 0.25
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31615
The CMS indicators that decide how 31615 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 31615
Airway endoscopy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
31615 without 51 · national office
$173.02
Airway endoscopy
31615-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$86.51
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%).
31615 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
31615 vs 31622 vs 31600 vs 31613: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 31622Bronchoscopy
- Use 31615 for endoscopic examination through an established tracheostomy. Code 31622 describes diagnostic bronchoscopy by another route.
- 31600Tracheostomy
- Code 31600 describes planned creation of a tracheostomy; 31615 is for airway endoscopy through an opening that already exists.
- 31613Stoma revision
- Code 31613 describes simple tracheostoma revision. It is not the code for inspecting the trachea and bronchi through the stoma.
31615 billing questions
How does 31615 differ from 31622?
31615 describes tracheobronchoscopy through an established tracheostomy. Consider 31622 when diagnostic bronchoscopy is performed by another route and its service meets that code's requirements.
Can 31615 be reported when a new tracheostomy is created?
31615 requires an established tracheostomy opening. A tracheostomy creation service, such as 31600 or 31601, describes creating the opening rather than examining the airway through an existing one.
What should the documentation identify?
Document that the scope passed through an established tracheostomy and describe the tracheal and bronchial examination, including the clinical reason for it.
Can modifier 50 be used?
No. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this code.
How do same-session procedures affect payment?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures in the same session are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period.
Are assistant or co-surgeon claims payable?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. 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
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