Billing code 31830: Tracheal scar revisionMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports operative revision of scar tissue affecting the trachea, such as postoperative or post-traumatic scarring that requires surgical correction.
Medicare pays $489.66 for 31830 nationally in the office and $331.00 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $434.34–$636.51.
Medicare rate · 31830
Tracheal scar revision
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 4.5
- Total RVUs
- 14.66
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$489.66
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 31830 → · 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 31830 covers
This service involves surgically revising scar tissue of the trachea, which may develop after prior airway surgery, tracheostomy, or injury. An otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeon, or thoracic surgeon typically performs it in an operating room when the tracheal scar itself is the target of the procedure. A scar limited to the skin or the configuration of the tracheostoma is a different operative target.
Report the code when the operative record supports revision of tracheal scar tissue, rather than repair of an acute tracheal injury or closure of a tracheostomy tract or fistula. Document the scar’s location and the work performed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. 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 31830 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
$434.34 to $636.51
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $440.53 | $301.71 |
| Alaska* | $575.71 | $406.74 |
| Arizona | $476.68 | $322.95 |
| Arkansas | $434.34 | $298.06 |
| Atlanta | $499.55 | $338.36 |
| Austin | $505.91 | $338.05 |
| Bakersfield | $514.52 | $340.63 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $520.40 | $350.16 |
| Beaumont | $459.53 | $315.15 |
| Brazoria | $483.22 | $326.00 |
| Chicago | $520.41 | $360.97 |
| Chico | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Colorado | $507.04 | $338.23 |
| Connecticut | $521.68 | $350.81 |
| Dallas | $486.66 | $328.64 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $556.77 | $369.87 |
| Delaware | $484.40 | $327.65 |
| Detroit | $493.43 | $340.33 |
| East St. Louis | $486.26 | $340.30 |
| El Centro | $512.74 | $338.86 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $511.33 | $350.61 |
| Fort Worth | $483.76 | $327.33 |
| Fresno | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Galveston | $484.90 | $327.36 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $524.03 | $343.64 |
| Houston | $496.80 | $339.26 |
| Idaho | $452.80 | $306.84 |
| Indiana | $455.31 | $308.24 |
| Iowa | $449.57 | $304.40 |
| Kansas | $448.40 | $304.97 |
| Kentucky | $452.55 | $311.51 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $546.65 | $358.97 |
| Madera | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Manhattan | $563.46 | $379.10 |
| Merced | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $555.05 | $365.62 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $469.78 | $320.81 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $509.58 | $344.42 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $474.45 | $323.41 |
| Miami | $535.88 | $370.72 |
| Minnesota | $483.58 | $320.33 |
| Mississippi | $439.84 | $303.24 |
| Modesto | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Montana** | $489.61 | $330.96 |
| Napa | $589.46 | $380.35 |
| Nebraska | $451.69 | $305.26 |
| Nevada** | $486.35 | $327.54 |
| New Hampshire | $499.97 | $334.81 |
| New Mexico | $467.66 | $322.17 |
| New Orleans | $473.87 | $324.58 |
| North Carolina | $460.54 | $312.51 |
| North Dakota** | $476.76 | $318.11 |
| Northern Nj | $551.43 | $367.39 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $577.92 | $389.28 |
| Ohio | $462.20 | $317.34 |
| Oklahoma | $450.83 | $309.15 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $543.49 | $355.96 |
| Portland | $521.76 | $345.50 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $531.16 | $357.43 |
| Puerto Rico | $492.83 | $332.43 |
| Queens | $566.68 | $379.15 |
| Redding | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Rest Of California | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Rest Of Florida | $486.60 | $334.93 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $459.52 | $318.00 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $474.25 | $329.39 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $452.22 | $311.81 |
| Rest Of Maine | $456.04 | $310.08 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $493.19 | $332.63 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $504.49 | $337.43 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $464.82 | $319.97 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $445.26 | $308.50 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $527.00 | $353.75 |
| Rest Of New York | $467.33 | $316.61 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $481.94 | $323.92 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $462.42 | $316.77 |
| Rest Of Texas | $471.35 | $320.79 |
| Rest Of Washington | $503.26 | $336.19 |
| Rhode Island | $500.65 | $336.76 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $519.66 | $345.78 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $536.77 | $352.26 |
| Salinas | $534.75 | $350.87 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $546.48 | $356.73 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $622.42 | $398.72 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $621.69 | $397.98 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $636.51 | $407.74 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $633.50 | $404.72 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $526.29 | $345.58 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $551.03 | $358.27 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $536.52 | $351.53 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $556.52 | $361.69 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $565.30 | $370.64 |
| South Carolina | $462.26 | $315.66 |
| South Dakota** | $475.24 | $316.59 |
| Southern Maine | $478.79 | $321.56 |
| Stockton | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| Suburban Chicago | $516.05 | $353.11 |
| Tennessee | $450.70 | $306.48 |
| Utah | $468.38 | $319.25 |
| Vallejo | $588.39 | $379.28 |
| Vermont | $475.76 | $318.69 |
| Virgin Islands | $492.83 | $332.43 |
| Virginia | $477.87 | $321.92 |
| Visalia | $512.63 | $338.75 |
| West Virginia | $457.40 | $319.53 |
| Wisconsin | $461.29 | $309.30 |
| Wyoming** | $484.01 | $325.36 |
| Yuba City | $512.63 | $338.75 |
31830 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.
$434.34
$575.71
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 | $575.71 | 1 |
| AL | $440.53 | 1 |
| AR | $434.34 | 1 |
| AZ | $476.68 | 1 |
| CA | $512.63–$636.51 | 29 |
| CO | $507.04 | 1 |
| CT | $521.68 | 1 |
| DC | $556.77 | 1 |
| DE | $484.40 | 1 |
| FL | $486.60–$535.88 | 3 |
| GA | $459.52–$499.55 | 2 |
| GU | $524.03 | 1 |
| HI | $524.03 | 1 |
| IA | $449.57 | 1 |
| ID | $452.80 | 1 |
| IL | $474.25–$520.41 | 4 |
| IN | $455.31 | 1 |
| KS | $448.40 | 1 |
| KY | $452.55 | 1 |
| LA | $452.22–$473.87 | 2 |
| MA | $504.49–$555.05 | 2 |
| MD | $493.19–$556.77 | 3 |
| ME | $456.04–$478.79 | 2 |
| MI | $464.82–$493.43 | 2 |
| MN | $483.58 | 1 |
| MO | $445.26–$474.45 | 3 |
| MS | $439.84 | 1 |
| MT | $489.61 | 1 |
| NC | $460.54 | 1 |
| ND | $476.76 | 1 |
| NE | $451.69 | 1 |
| NH | $499.97 | 1 |
| NJ | $527.00–$551.43 | 2 |
| NM | $467.66 | 1 |
| NV | $486.35 | 1 |
| NY | $467.33–$577.92 | 5 |
| OH | $462.20 | 1 |
| OK | $450.83 | 1 |
| OR | $481.94–$521.76 | 2 |
| PA | $462.42–$509.58 | 2 |
| PR | $492.83 | 1 |
| RI | $500.65 | 1 |
| SC | $462.26 | 1 |
| SD | $475.24 | 1 |
| TN | $450.70 | 1 |
| TX | $459.53–$505.91 | 8 |
| UT | $468.38 | 1 |
| VA | $477.87–$556.77 | 2 |
| VI | $492.83 | 1 |
| VT | $475.76 | 1 |
| WA | $503.26–$565.30 | 2 |
| WI | $461.29 | 1 |
| WV | $457.40 | 1 |
| WY | $484.01 | 1 |
How the 31830 rate is calculated
Each of 31830’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 · 31830
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 4.50Practice expense 9.51Malpractice 0.65
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31830
31830 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 31830
Tracheal scar revision
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.76/0.14 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 31830
Tracheal scar revision
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
31830 without 51 · national office
$489.66
Tracheal scar revision
31830-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$244.83
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%).
31830 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
31830 vs 31800 vs 31805 vs 31613 vs 31825: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 31800Tracheal repair
- This code concerns revision of tracheal scar tissue. Code 31800 is for repair of a tracheal injury, not revision of an established scar.
- 31805Tracheal repair
- Use 31830 for tracheal scar revision; 31805 describes repair of a tracheal injury.
- 31613Stoma revision
- Code 31613 is for simple revision of the tracheostoma. Choose 31830 when the operative target is scar tissue affecting the trachea itself.
- 31825Tracheal defect repair
- Code 31825 is for closing a tracheostomy or fistula with plastic repair. It is not the choice when the procedure revises tracheal scar tissue instead.
31830 billing questions
How is tracheal scar revision different from tracheostoma revision?
Use this code when the operative target is scar tissue affecting the trachea. Codes 31613 and 31614 concern revision of the tracheostoma itself, with the choice depending on the stoma procedure performed.
When would a tracheostomy closure code be more appropriate?
Codes 31820 and 31825 describe closure of a tracheostomy or fistula, with 31825 involving plastic repair. Choose based on whether the documented objective is closure of the tract or revision of tracheal scar tissue.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.
What documentation supports assistant-at-surgery payment?
The record must document the medical necessity of the assistant. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
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
Fee sheets
Put 31830 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →