Billing code 31629: Bronchoscopic biopsyMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports bronchoscopic needle sampling of the tracheobronchial tree or mediastinum, such as aspiration biopsy of a mediastinal or hilar target.
Medicare pays $497.01 for 31629 nationally in the office and $168.34 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $440.03–$665.20.
Medicare rate · 31629
Bronchoscopic biopsy
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 3.66
- Total RVUs
- 14.88
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$497.01
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 31629 → · 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 31629 covers
A pulmonologist, interventional pulmonologist, or thoracic surgeon passes a needle through a rigid or flexible bronchoscope to obtain tissue or cellular material from the tracheobronchial tree or mediastinum. Common targets include mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes and peribronchial lesions. The specimen may be sent for cytology or histopathology after bronchoscopy in a hospital or outpatient procedural setting.
Report 31629 for the initial needle-biopsy service; when additional lobes are sampled, 31633 is the related add-on code. The procedure note should identify the sampled target and lobe and describe the needle sampling performed. This is a minor procedure with 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. 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 31629 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
$440.03 to $665.20
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $446.45 | $158.86 |
| Alaska* | $576.31 | $226.28 |
| Arizona | $484.03 | $165.55 |
| Arkansas | $440.03 | $157.71 |
| Atlanta | $505.59 | $171.67 |
| Austin | $516.92 | $169.19 |
| Bakersfield | $529.45 | $169.23 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $528.29 | $175.63 |
| Beaumont | $463.51 | $164.42 |
| Brazoria | $492.07 | $166.37 |
| Chicago | $515.25 | $184.94 |
| Chico | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Colorado | $519.05 | $169.35 |
| Connecticut | $529.91 | $175.93 |
| Dallas | $494.95 | $167.60 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $569.53 | $182.36 |
| Delaware | $492.05 | $167.33 |
| Detroit | $492.56 | $175.40 |
| East St. Louis | $480.18 | $177.81 |
| El Centro | $528.39 | $168.17 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $511.44 | $178.50 |
| Fort Worth | $491.48 | $167.41 |
| Fresno | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Galveston | $493.38 | $167.01 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $541.64 | $167.95 |
| Houston | $499.97 | $173.60 |
| Idaho | $461.65 | $159.28 |
| Indiana | $464.35 | $159.67 |
| Iowa | $458.92 | $158.19 |
| Kansas | $456.22 | $159.11 |
| Kentucky | $455.72 | $163.54 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $564.36 | $175.55 |
| Madera | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Manhattan | $570.64 | $188.73 |
| Merced | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $571.07 | $178.64 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $474.60 | $165.99 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $516.40 | $174.26 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $479.62 | $166.73 |
| Miami | $530.26 | $188.12 |
| Minnesota | $499.06 | $160.86 |
| Mississippi | $443.45 | $160.47 |
| Modesto | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Montana** | $496.98 | $168.32 |
| Napa | $614.14 | $180.96 |
| Nebraska | $461.60 | $158.24 |
| Nevada** | $495.36 | $166.37 |
| New Hampshire | $510.37 | $168.23 |
| New Mexico | $469.32 | $167.93 |
| New Orleans | $477.24 | $167.97 |
| North Carolina | $468.36 | $161.72 |
| North Dakota** | $489.86 | $161.20 |
| Northern Nj | $563.56 | $182.31 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $583.69 | $192.91 |
| Ohio | $465.54 | $165.47 |
| Oklahoma | $455.51 | $162.01 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $561.91 | $173.43 |
| Portland | $536.15 | $171.00 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $539.49 | $179.60 |
| Puerto Rico | $500.82 | $168.53 |
| Queens | $576.16 | $187.68 |
| Redding | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Rest Of California | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Rest Of Florida | $487.09 | $172.89 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $460.14 | $166.97 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $472.22 | $172.15 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $454.79 | $163.92 |
| Rest Of Maine | $463.44 | $161.07 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $501.59 | $168.99 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $515.75 | $169.66 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $467.00 | $166.93 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $446.64 | $163.33 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $536.43 | $177.53 |
| Rest Of New York | $475.30 | $163.07 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $491.98 | $164.63 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $466.60 | $164.89 |
| Rest Of Texas | $477.34 | $165.44 |
| Rest Of Washington | $514.95 | $168.86 |
| Rhode Island | $510.00 | $170.49 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $532.26 | $172.04 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $554.95 | $172.72 |
| Salinas | $552.89 | $171.97 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $566.26 | $173.18 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $650.83 | $187.42 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $650.43 | $187.01 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $665.20 | $191.27 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $663.53 | $189.60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $543.92 | $169.58 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $571.98 | $172.65 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $555.06 | $171.84 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $577.80 | $174.20 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $583.26 | $179.99 |
| South Carolina | $467.63 | $163.95 |
| South Dakota** | $489.02 | $160.36 |
| Southern Maine | $489.30 | $163.60 |
| Stockton | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| Suburban Chicago | $516.94 | $179.40 |
| Tennessee | $458.43 | $159.67 |
| Utah | $474.01 | $165.07 |
| Vallejo | $613.55 | $180.37 |
| Vermont | $487.44 | $162.06 |
| Virgin Islands | $500.82 | $168.53 |
| Virginia | $487.30 | $164.23 |
| Visalia | $528.33 | $168.11 |
| West Virginia | $454.67 | $169.06 |
| Wisconsin | $473.45 | $158.59 |
| Wyoming** | $493.88 | $165.21 |
| Yuba City | $528.33 | $168.11 |
31629 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$440.03
$596.77
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 | $576.31 | 1 |
| AL | $446.45 | 1 |
| AR | $440.03 | 1 |
| AZ | $484.03 | 1 |
| CA | $528.33–$665.20 | 29 |
| CO | $519.05 | 1 |
| CT | $529.91 | 1 |
| DC | $569.53 | 1 |
| DE | $492.05 | 1 |
| FL | $487.09–$530.26 | 3 |
| GA | $460.14–$505.59 | 2 |
| GU | $541.64 | 1 |
| HI | $541.64 | 1 |
| IA | $458.92 | 1 |
| ID | $461.65 | 1 |
| IL | $472.22–$516.94 | 4 |
| IN | $464.35 | 1 |
| KS | $456.22 | 1 |
| KY | $455.72 | 1 |
| LA | $454.79–$477.24 | 2 |
| MA | $515.75–$571.07 | 2 |
| MD | $501.59–$569.53 | 3 |
| ME | $463.44–$489.30 | 2 |
| MI | $467.00–$492.56 | 2 |
| MN | $499.06 | 1 |
| MO | $446.64–$479.62 | 3 |
| MS | $443.45 | 1 |
| MT | $496.98 | 1 |
| NC | $468.36 | 1 |
| ND | $489.86 | 1 |
| NE | $461.60 | 1 |
| NH | $510.37 | 1 |
| NJ | $536.43–$563.56 | 2 |
| NM | $469.32 | 1 |
| NV | $495.36 | 1 |
| NY | $475.30–$583.69 | 5 |
| OH | $465.54 | 1 |
| OK | $455.51 | 1 |
| OR | $491.98–$536.15 | 2 |
| PA | $466.60–$516.40 | 2 |
| PR | $500.82 | 1 |
| RI | $510.00 | 1 |
| SC | $467.63 | 1 |
| SD | $489.02 | 1 |
| TN | $458.43 | 1 |
| TX | $463.51–$516.92 | 8 |
| UT | $474.01 | 1 |
| VA | $487.30–$569.53 | 2 |
| VI | $500.82 | 1 |
| VT | $487.44 | 1 |
| WA | $514.95–$583.26 | 2 |
| WI | $473.45 | 1 |
| WV | $454.67 | 1 |
| WY | $493.88 | 1 |
How the 31629 rate is calculated
Each of 31629’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 · 31629
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.66Practice expense 10.86Malpractice 0.36
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31629
The CMS indicators that decide how 31629 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 31629
Bronchoscopic biopsy
| 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 | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| 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
31629 without 51 · national office
$497.01
Bronchoscopic biopsy
31629-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$248.51
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%).
31629 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
31629 vs 31628 vs 31625 vs 31633 vs 31652: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 31628Lung biopsy
- Choose 31629 for needle aspiration biopsy of the tracheobronchial tree or mediastinum; choose 31628 for transbronchial lung biopsy.
- 31625Bronchoscopy biopsy
- 31625 represents bronchoscopic biopsy of airway tissue. 31629 represents needle aspiration biopsy through the bronchoscope.
- 31633Bronchoscopic needle biopsy
- 31633 is the add-on for each additional lobe sampled by needle biopsy; 31629 reports the initial needle-biopsy service.
- 31652EBUS node sampling
- 31652 is for EBUS-guided sampling of one or two mediastinal or hilar node stations. Distinguish it from 31629 by the documented guidance and service.
31629 billing questions
How does 31629 differ from 31628?
31629 is for needle aspiration biopsy of the tracheobronchial tree or mediastinum. 31628 is for transbronchial lung biopsy, so use the code that matches the sampling method and target documented.
When is 31633 reported with 31629?
31633 is the add-on for needle biopsy in each additional lobe. The documentation should identify the additional lobe sampled; additional needle passes alone do not establish another lobe.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral sampling?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 31629, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
How is 31629 distinguished from EBUS-guided node sampling?
For EBUS-guided sampling of one or two mediastinal or hilar lymph node stations, compare 31652. Select the code that reflects the documented guidance and service performed.
Does the 0-day global period include same-day care?
Yes. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 31629. 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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