Billing code 31635: BronchoscopyMedicare rate & RVUs
Report this service when a physician uses bronchoscopy to retrieve a foreign object lodged in the trachea or bronchial airway.
Medicare pays $323.99 for 31635 nationally in the office and $158.32 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $289.85–$419.37.
Medicare rate · 31635
Bronchoscopy
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 3.33
- Total RVUs
- 9.70
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$323.99
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 31635 → · 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 31635 covers
A pulmonologist or thoracic surgeon uses a bronchoscope to locate and retrieve an object lodged in the trachea or a bronchus. Typical cases include an aspirated food fragment or another object obstructing the airway. The physician may use retrieval instruments through a flexible or rigid scope, with the approach guided by the object’s location and the patient’s condition. Bronchoscopic foreign body removal is commonly performed in a hospital or other facility setting.
Report 31635 when the bronchoscopic intervention removes a foreign object, and document its airway location, the retrieval performed, and the outcome. The code has 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 an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 31635 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
$289.85 to $419.37
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $293.68 | $148.72 |
| Alaska* | $387.25 | $210.81 |
| Arizona | $316.03 | $155.50 |
| Arkansas | $289.85 | $147.54 |
| Atlanta | $329.95 | $161.63 |
| Austin | $334.48 | $159.21 |
| Bakersfield | $340.67 | $159.10 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $343.27 | $165.51 |
| Beaumont | $305.07 | $154.31 |
| Brazoria | $320.43 | $156.25 |
| Chicago | $341.34 | $174.85 |
| Chico | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Colorado | $335.54 | $159.27 |
| Connecticut | $344.20 | $165.77 |
| Dallas | $322.48 | $157.47 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $367.09 | $171.93 |
| Delaware | $320.92 | $157.24 |
| Detroit | $325.21 | $165.34 |
| East St. Louis | $320.12 | $167.71 |
| El Centro | $339.63 | $158.06 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $336.31 | $168.49 |
| Fort Worth | $320.63 | $157.28 |
| Fresno | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Galveston | $321.41 | $156.90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $346.43 | $158.06 |
| Houston | $327.99 | $163.49 |
| Idaho | $301.59 | $149.18 |
| Indiana | $303.15 | $149.58 |
| Iowa | $299.68 | $148.09 |
| Kansas | $298.75 | $148.99 |
| Kentucky | $300.68 | $153.41 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $361.24 | $165.26 |
| Madera | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Manhattan | $370.67 | $178.17 |
| Merced | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $366.17 | $168.36 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $311.47 | $155.90 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $336.54 | $164.08 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $314.38 | $156.66 |
| Miami | $350.60 | $178.14 |
| Minnesota | $321.35 | $150.87 |
| Mississippi | $292.95 | $150.31 |
| Modesto | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Montana** | $323.96 | $158.30 |
| Napa | $388.92 | $170.56 |
| Nebraska | $301.05 | $148.14 |
| Nevada** | $322.18 | $156.35 |
| New Hampshire | $330.72 | $158.26 |
| New Mexico | $309.74 | $157.83 |
| New Orleans | $313.78 | $157.89 |
| North Carolina | $306.20 | $151.63 |
| North Dakota** | $316.85 | $151.18 |
| Northern Nj | $363.93 | $171.76 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $379.35 | $182.37 |
| Ohio | $306.62 | $155.37 |
| Oklahoma | $299.83 | $151.89 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $359.10 | $163.28 |
| Portland | $344.97 | $160.91 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $350.59 | $169.18 |
| Puerto Rico | $326.02 | $158.53 |
| Queens | $372.96 | $177.14 |
| Redding | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Rest Of California | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Rest Of Florida | $321.20 | $162.83 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $304.62 | $156.84 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $313.29 | $162.04 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $300.40 | $153.78 |
| Rest Of Maine | $303.38 | $150.97 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $326.52 | $158.87 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $333.97 | $159.52 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $308.08 | $156.82 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $295.97 | $153.17 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $348.07 | $167.16 |
| Rest Of New York | $310.38 | $153.00 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $319.61 | $154.61 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $306.87 | $154.78 |
| Rest Of Texas | $312.58 | $155.37 |
| Rest Of Washington | $333.20 | $158.75 |
| Rhode Island | $331.43 | $160.29 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $343.49 | $161.92 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $355.13 | $162.46 |
| Salinas | $353.77 | $161.77 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $361.16 | $163.02 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $410.35 | $176.76 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $409.94 | $176.35 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $419.37 | $180.48 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $417.70 | $178.81 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $348.20 | $159.51 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $363.90 | $162.62 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $354.85 | $161.68 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $367.51 | $164.07 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $372.92 | $169.64 |
| South Carolina | $306.93 | $153.85 |
| South Dakota** | $316.00 | $150.34 |
| Southern Maine | $317.75 | $153.57 |
| Stockton | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| Suburban Chicago | $339.47 | $169.33 |
| Tennessee | $300.15 | $149.56 |
| Utah | $310.72 | $154.99 |
| Vallejo | $388.33 | $169.97 |
| Vermont | $316.04 | $152.03 |
| Virgin Islands | $326.02 | $158.53 |
| Virginia | $317.04 | $154.19 |
| Visalia | $339.57 | $158.00 |
| West Virginia | $302.87 | $158.91 |
| Wisconsin | $307.24 | $148.53 |
| Wyoming** | $320.86 | $155.19 |
| Yuba City | $339.57 | $158.00 |
31635 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.
$289.85
$387.25
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 | $387.25 | 1 |
| AL | $293.68 | 1 |
| AR | $289.85 | 1 |
| AZ | $316.03 | 1 |
| CA | $339.57–$419.37 | 29 |
| CO | $335.54 | 1 |
| CT | $344.20 | 1 |
| DC | $367.09 | 1 |
| DE | $320.92 | 1 |
| FL | $321.20–$350.60 | 3 |
| GA | $304.62–$329.95 | 2 |
| GU | $346.43 | 1 |
| HI | $346.43 | 1 |
| IA | $299.68 | 1 |
| ID | $301.59 | 1 |
| IL | $313.29–$341.34 | 4 |
| IN | $303.15 | 1 |
| KS | $298.75 | 1 |
| KY | $300.68 | 1 |
| LA | $300.40–$313.78 | 2 |
| MA | $333.97–$366.17 | 2 |
| MD | $326.52–$367.09 | 3 |
| ME | $303.38–$317.75 | 2 |
| MI | $308.08–$325.21 | 2 |
| MN | $321.35 | 1 |
| MO | $295.97–$314.38 | 3 |
| MS | $292.95 | 1 |
| MT | $323.96 | 1 |
| NC | $306.20 | 1 |
| ND | $316.85 | 1 |
| NE | $301.05 | 1 |
| NH | $330.72 | 1 |
| NJ | $348.07–$363.93 | 2 |
| NM | $309.74 | 1 |
| NV | $322.18 | 1 |
| NY | $310.38–$379.35 | 5 |
| OH | $306.62 | 1 |
| OK | $299.83 | 1 |
| OR | $319.61–$344.97 | 2 |
| PA | $306.87–$336.54 | 2 |
| PR | $326.02 | 1 |
| RI | $331.43 | 1 |
| SC | $306.93 | 1 |
| SD | $316.00 | 1 |
| TN | $300.15 | 1 |
| TX | $305.07–$334.48 | 8 |
| UT | $310.72 | 1 |
| VA | $317.04–$367.09 | 2 |
| VI | $326.02 | 1 |
| VT | $316.04 | 1 |
| WA | $333.20–$372.92 | 2 |
| WI | $307.24 | 1 |
| WV | $302.87 | 1 |
| WY | $320.86 | 1 |
How the 31635 rate is calculated
Each of 31635’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 · 31635
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.33Practice expense 6.01Malpractice 0.36
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31635
The CMS indicators that decide how 31635 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 31635
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) | 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
31635 without 51 · national office
$323.99
Bronchoscopy
31635-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$162.00
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%).
31635 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
31635 vs 31622 vs 31640 vs 31641 vs 31645: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 31622Bronchoscopy
- 31622 is for diagnostic bronchoscopic inspection. Choose 31635 when the procedure includes retrieval of a foreign object.
- 31640Bronchoscopic tumor removal
- 31640 addresses bronchoscopic excision of a tumor. Use 31635 for retrieval of a foreign object lodged in the airway.
- 31641Therapeutic bronchoscopy
- 31641 addresses bronchoscopic treatment of stenosis or another obstruction. Use 31635 when the obstruction is a foreign object that is retrieved.
- 31645Bronchial aspiration
- 31645 describes therapeutic aspiration of material from the airway, such as secretions; 31635 is for bronchoscopic retrieval of a foreign object.
31635 billing questions
How is 31635 different from diagnostic bronchoscopy 31622?
Use 31635 when the bronchoscopy includes retrieval of a foreign object. Use 31622 when the service is diagnostic inspection rather than foreign body removal.
Can diagnostic bronchoscopy be reported with 31635?
The diagnostic inspection is part of the bronchoscopic removal service when performed as part of the same procedure. Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together.
Which modifier applies for removal from both lungs?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 31635. The code’s descriptor or anatomy makes a bilateral adjustment inapplicable.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 31635. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this service.
What documentation supports reporting 31635?
Document the foreign object, its location in the trachea or bronchial airway, the bronchoscopic retrieval performed, and the result.
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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