Billing code 31634: BronchoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs
Bronchoscopic balloon occlusion temporarily blocks selected airways to help locate and measure a persistent pulmonary air leak.
Medicare pays $1,606.25 for 31634 nationally in the office and $170.34 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $1,392.87–$2,264.73.
Medicare rate · 31634
Bronchoscopy
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 3.66
- Total RVUs
- 48.09
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$1,606.25
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 31634 → · 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 9 sections
What 31634 covers
During this procedure, a pulmonologist or other bronchoscopist passes a flexible or rigid bronchoscope into the airways and uses a balloon catheter to temporarily occlude selected branches. The clinician observes the effect on an air leak, often through a connected chest drainage system, to help identify the airway responsible. This assessment may be used when a patient has a persistent leak, such as after lung surgery or with a bronchopleural fistula, and localization could guide treatment planning.
Report the service when balloon occlusion and air-leak assessment are performed, rather than for airway inspection alone or airway dilation. The record should support the clinical reason for testing, the airways occluded, and the observed leak response or measurements. 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. CMS may pay for an assistant at surgery; 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 31634 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
$1392.87 to $2264.73
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,417.03 | $160.62 |
| Alaska* | $1,757.65 | $228.41 |
| Arizona | $1,558.89 | $167.49 |
| Arkansas | $1,392.87 | $159.43 |
| Atlanta | $1,632.58 | $173.71 |
| Austin | $1,690.50 | $171.31 |
| Bakersfield | $1,745.18 | $171.43 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $1,718.51 | $177.78 |
| Beaumont | $1,472.92 | $166.24 |
| Brazoria | $1,591.33 | $168.35 |
| Chicago | $1,630.04 | $186.95 |
| Chico | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Colorado | $1,699.29 | $171.49 |
| Connecticut | $1,724.56 | $178.09 |
| Dallas | $1,599.75 | $169.59 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $1,876.22 | $184.73 |
| Delaware | $1,587.98 | $169.31 |
| Detroit | $1,562.98 | $177.33 |
| East St. Louis | $1,500.68 | $179.65 |
| El Centro | $1,744.12 | $170.37 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $1,635.10 | $180.53 |
| Fort Worth | $1,585.19 | $169.39 |
| Fresno | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Galveston | $1,594.86 | $169.00 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $1,802.85 | $170.22 |
| Houston | $1,601.44 | $175.59 |
| Idaho | $1,482.15 | $161.12 |
| Indiana | $1,492.61 | $161.53 |
| Iowa | $1,473.88 | $160.03 |
| Kansas | $1,458.98 | $160.92 |
| Kentucky | $1,441.84 | $165.32 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $1,876.59 | $177.92 |
| Madera | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Manhattan | $1,859.58 | $191.06 |
| Merced | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $1,895.50 | $181.03 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $1,516.18 | $167.87 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $1,671.12 | $176.34 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $1,535.62 | $168.64 |
| Miami | $1,684.99 | $190.21 |
| Minnesota | $1,640.47 | $162.93 |
| Mississippi | $1,398.51 | $162.19 |
| Modesto | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Montana** | $1,606.23 | $170.32 |
| Napa | $2,076.12 | $183.60 |
| Nebraska | $1,485.43 | $160.09 |
| Nevada** | $1,605.71 | $168.37 |
| New Hampshire | $1,665.10 | $170.32 |
| New Mexico | $1,486.49 | $169.77 |
| New Orleans | $1,521.04 | $169.85 |
| North Carolina | $1,503.29 | $163.59 |
| North Dakota** | $1,599.11 | $163.20 |
| Northern Nj | $1,850.28 | $184.64 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $1,902.58 | $195.29 |
| Ohio | $1,478.28 | $167.30 |
| Oklahoma | $1,446.07 | $163.80 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $1,873.04 | $175.80 |
| Portland | $1,768.52 | $173.23 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $1,754.11 | $181.80 |
| Puerto Rico | $1,622.26 | $170.56 |
| Queens | $1,887.29 | $190.05 |
| Redding | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Rest Of California | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Rest Of Florida | $1,547.53 | $174.81 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $1,449.58 | $168.76 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $1,484.96 | $173.98 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $1,436.47 | $165.69 |
| Rest Of Maine | $1,483.95 | $162.91 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $1,624.15 | $171.01 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $1,683.78 | $171.77 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $1,479.74 | $168.76 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $1,402.80 | $165.05 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $1,747.73 | $179.72 |
| Rest Of New York | $1,529.08 | $164.97 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $1,596.79 | $166.63 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $1,484.89 | $166.73 |
| Rest Of Texas | $1,530.01 | $167.34 |
| Rest Of Washington | $1,682.98 | $170.97 |
| Rhode Island | $1,655.85 | $172.56 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $1,747.99 | $174.24 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $1,845.00 | $175.05 |
| Salinas | $1,838.50 | $174.29 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $1,892.92 | $175.58 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $2,214.87 | $190.24 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $2,214.46 | $189.83 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $2,264.73 | $194.16 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $2,263.06 | $192.49 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $1,807.35 | $171.86 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $1,919.71 | $175.09 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $1,848.44 | $174.18 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $1,939.95 | $176.66 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $1,944.30 | $182.45 |
| South Carolina | $1,492.58 | $165.80 |
| South Dakota** | $1,598.27 | $162.36 |
| Southern Maine | $1,588.56 | $165.58 |
| Stockton | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| Suburban Chicago | $1,656.13 | $181.46 |
| Tennessee | $1,466.73 | $161.49 |
| Utah | $1,516.70 | $166.95 |
| Vallejo | $2,075.53 | $183.01 |
| Vermont | $1,585.59 | $164.04 |
| Virgin Islands | $1,622.26 | $170.56 |
| Virginia | $1,577.69 | $166.20 |
| Visalia | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
| West Virginia | $1,418.60 | $170.80 |
| Wisconsin | $1,536.11 | $160.51 |
| Wyoming** | $1,603.12 | $167.22 |
| Yuba City | $1,744.06 | $170.31 |
31634 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.
$1,392.87
$2,004.40
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 | $1,757.65 | 1 |
| AL | $1,417.03 | 1 |
| AR | $1,392.87 | 1 |
| AZ | $1,558.89 | 1 |
| CA | $1,744.06–$2,264.73 | 29 |
| CO | $1,699.29 | 1 |
| CT | $1,724.56 | 1 |
| DC | $1,876.22 | 1 |
| DE | $1,587.98 | 1 |
| FL | $1,547.53–$1,684.99 | 3 |
| GA | $1,449.58–$1,632.58 | 2 |
| GU | $1,802.85 | 1 |
| HI | $1,802.85 | 1 |
| IA | $1,473.88 | 1 |
| ID | $1,482.15 | 1 |
| IL | $1,484.96–$1,656.13 | 4 |
| IN | $1,492.61 | 1 |
| KS | $1,458.98 | 1 |
| KY | $1,441.84 | 1 |
| LA | $1,436.47–$1,521.04 | 2 |
| MA | $1,683.78–$1,895.50 | 2 |
| MD | $1,624.15–$1,876.22 | 3 |
| ME | $1,483.95–$1,588.56 | 2 |
| MI | $1,479.74–$1,562.98 | 2 |
| MN | $1,640.47 | 1 |
| MO | $1,402.80–$1,535.62 | 3 |
| MS | $1,398.51 | 1 |
| MT | $1,606.23 | 1 |
| NC | $1,503.29 | 1 |
| ND | $1,599.11 | 1 |
| NE | $1,485.43 | 1 |
| NH | $1,665.10 | 1 |
| NJ | $1,747.73–$1,850.28 | 2 |
| NM | $1,486.49 | 1 |
| NV | $1,605.71 | 1 |
| NY | $1,529.08–$1,902.58 | 5 |
| OH | $1,478.28 | 1 |
| OK | $1,446.07 | 1 |
| OR | $1,596.79–$1,768.52 | 2 |
| PA | $1,484.89–$1,671.12 | 2 |
| PR | $1,622.26 | 1 |
| RI | $1,655.85 | 1 |
| SC | $1,492.58 | 1 |
| SD | $1,598.27 | 1 |
| TN | $1,466.73 | 1 |
| TX | $1,472.92–$1,690.50 | 8 |
| UT | $1,516.70 | 1 |
| VA | $1,577.69–$1,876.22 | 2 |
| VI | $1,622.26 | 1 |
| VT | $1,585.59 | 1 |
| WA | $1,682.98–$1,944.30 | 2 |
| WI | $1,536.11 | 1 |
| WV | $1,418.60 | 1 |
| WY | $1,603.12 | 1 |
How the 31634 rate is calculated
Each of 31634’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 · 31634
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.66Practice expense 44.07Malpractice 0.36
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31634
The CMS indicators that decide how 31634 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 31634
Bronchoscopy
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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
31634 without 51 · national office
$1,606.25
Bronchoscopy
31634-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$803.13
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%).
31634 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
31634 vs 31622 vs 31630 vs 31631 vs 31643: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 31622Bronchoscopy
- This is diagnostic bronchoscopy without the balloon-occlusion air-leak assessment that distinguishes 31634.
- 31630Bronchoscopy
- 31630 addresses bronchial dilation for narrowing; 31634 uses temporary balloon occlusion to assess an air leak.
- 31631Airway stent
- 31631 involves airway dilation with stent placement, not balloon occlusion to localize an air leak.
- 31643Bronchoscopy
- 31643 describes bronchoscopic catheter placement for radiologic or therapeutic purposes; 31634 is specific to balloon-occlusion air-leak assessment.
31634 billing questions
When is 31634 more appropriate than a diagnostic bronchoscopy code?
Use 31634 when balloon occlusion is performed to assess an air leak. Airway inspection without that assessment is a different service.
What documentation supports reporting 31634?
Document the indication for air-leak localization, the airway branches occluded, and the leak response or measurements observed during the test.
Can modifier 50 be used when both lungs are assessed?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How does CMS price related endoscopies performed in the same session?
Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. The CMS facts do not specify separate payment treatment for particular code pairings.
Can an assistant, co-surgeon, or surgical team be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What does the 0-day global period include?
Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure.
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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