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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

31235 in Austin

Office / nonfacility

$321.36

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$139.01

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Nasal endoscopy

About 31235: Diagnostic sphenoid sinus endoscopy

ENT clinicians report diagnostic sphenoid sinus endoscopy to inspect the sphenoid sinus through the nose when evaluating suspected or known sinus disease.

An otolaryngologist passes an endoscope through the nasal passage to examine the sphenoid sinus. The diagnostic view can help assess suspected sphenoid sinus inflammation, a lesion, or other findings identified during evaluation of sinus symptoms or imaging. The service is performed in settings such as an ENT office or operating room when the purpose is diagnostic visualization rather than sphenoid sinus surgery.

Report the code when documentation supports examination of the sphenoid sinus, not merely a general nasal examination or visualization of another sinus. If the same session includes related nasal or sinus endoscopies, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. Modifier 50 identifies bilateral performance and CMS pays it at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 31235

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Multiple procedures
Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together.
Bilateral procedures
Bilateral procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Assistant at surgery
Assistant at surgery is paid only with documentation of medical necessity.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU2.57 · 28%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU6.35 · 68%
  • Malpractice RVU0.37 · 4%

385

Medicare services in 2024 · #3768 by national volume

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.

31235 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.

31231

Nasal endoscopy

Diagnostic, without sinusoscopy

$201.69

31231 describes diagnostic nasal endoscopy without sphenoid sinusoscopy. Report 31235 when the documented examination specifically reaches the sphenoid sinus.

31233

Sinus endoscopy

Maxillary sinus

$282.65

31233 is diagnostic endoscopy of the maxillary sinus; 31235 is selected for diagnostic examination of the sphenoid sinus.

31287

Sphenoidotomy

Without tissue removal

No office rate

31287 describes surgical sphenoidotomy, not diagnostic visualization alone. Choose it when the operative work includes sphenoid surgery.

31288

Sphenoid surgery

Sphenoid tissue removal

No office rate

31288 applies when sphenoid surgery includes tissue removal. Diagnostic sphenoid sinusoscopy without that surgical work is distinguished by 31235.

The same code, a different location

How does Austin compare?

In Beaumont, the office rate for 31235 is $290.33—$31.03 lower than the $321.36 rate in Austin. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

31235 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Austin · This locality

    $321.36

  2. Beaumont

    $290.33

    $31.03 lower than Austin

  3. Brazoria

    $306.35

    $15.01 lower than Austin

  4. Dallas

    $308.46

    $12.90 lower than Austin

  5. Fort Worth

    $306.50

    $14.86 lower than Austin

  6. Galveston

    $307.37

    $13.99 lower than Austin

  7. Houston

    $314.14

    $7.22 lower than Austin

Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 31235 ranges from $274.40 in Arkansas to $407.75 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas
  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 31235

    Office

    $298.28

    Facility

    $134.72

    $23.08 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    California · 31235

    Office

    $348.47

    Facility

    $144.59

    $27.11 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 31235

    Office

    $354.08

    Facility

    $151.05

    $32.72 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 31235

    Office

    $337.89

    Facility

    $158.47

    $16.53 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 31235

    Office

    $327.96

    Facility

    $154.75

    $6.60 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 31235

    Office

    $357.39

    Facility

    $157.12

    $36.03 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 31235

    Office

    $361.45

    Facility

    $177.90

    $40.09 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 31235

    Office

    $278.42

    Facility

    $127.61

    $42.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 31235

    Office

    $274.40

    Facility

    $126.35

    $46.96 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 31235

    Office

    $301.94

    Facility

    $134.93

    $19.42 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 31235

    Office

    $327.45

    Facility

    $138.56

    $6.09 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.44

    Facility

    $137.55

    $5.08 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 31235

    Office

    $377.07

    Facility

    $149.91

    $55.71 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 31235

    Office

    $346.64

    Facility

    $142.92

    $25.28 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 31235

    Office

    $330.38

    Facility

    $141.49

    $9.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 31235

    Office

    $342.22

    Facility

    $141.78

    $20.86 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 31235

    Office

    $340.94

    Facility

    $141.19

    $19.58 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 31235

    Office

    $348.78

    Facility

    $142.65

    $27.42 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 31235

    Office

    $398.72

    Facility

    $155.71

    $77.36 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 31235

    Office

    $398.30

    Facility

    $155.29

    $76.94 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 31235

    Office

    $407.75

    Facility

    $159.22

    $86.39 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 31235

    Office

    $406.03

    Facility

    $157.50

    $84.67 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 31235

    Office

    $335.50

    Facility

    $139.20

    $14.14 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 31235

    Office

    $351.96

    Facility

    $142.56

    $30.60 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 31235

    Office

    $342.17

    Facility

    $141.21

    $20.81 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 31235

    Office

    $355.49

    Facility

    $143.85

    $34.13 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 31235

    Office

    $376.46

    Facility

    $149.31

    $55.10 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 31235

    Office

    $326.38

    Facility

    $137.49

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 31235

    Office

    $322.19

    Facility

    $138.81

    $0.83 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 31235

    Office

    $330.94

    Facility

    $145.32

    $9.58 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 31235

    Office

    $306.93

    Facility

    $136.65

    $14.43 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 31235

    Office

    $323.04

    Facility

    $148.45

    $1.68 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 31235

    Office

    $307.18

    Facility

    $142.41

    $14.18 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 31235

    Office

    $316.43

    Facility

    $141.32

    $4.93 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 31235

    Office

    $289.76

    Facility

    $136.03

    $31.60 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 31235

    Office

    $334.15

    Facility

    $138.19

    $12.79 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 31235

    Office

    $284.81

    Facility

    $127.12

    $36.55 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 31235

    Office

    $286.81

    Facility

    $128.25

    $34.55 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 31235

    Office

    $305.86

    Facility

    $147.30

    $15.50 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 31235

    Office

    $298.80

    Facility

    $141.45

    $22.56 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 31235

    Office

    $326.16

    Facility

    $149.16

    $4.80 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 31235

    Office

    $288.46

    Facility

    $128.69

    $32.90 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 31235

    Office

    $283.80

    Facility

    $128.00

    $37.56 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 31235

    Office

    $285.70

    Facility

    $132.48

    $35.66 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 31235

    Office

    $299.46

    Facility

    $137.28

    $21.90 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 31235

    Office

    $285.38

    Facility

    $132.86

    $35.98 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 31235

    Office

    $353.60

    Facility

    $147.82

    $32.24 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 31235

    Office

    $320.40

    Facility

    $138.92

    $0.96 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 31235

    Office

    $330.08

    Facility

    $145.15

    $8.72 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 31235

    Office

    $312.68

    Facility

    $138.27

    $8.68 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 31235

    Office

    $288.66

    Facility

    $130.09

    $32.70 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 31235

    Office

    $303.83

    Facility

    $133.03

    $17.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 31235

    Office

    $311.35

    Facility

    $145.03

    $10.01 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 31235

    Office

    $293.44

    Facility

    $136.08

    $27.92 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 31235

    Office

    $307.74

    Facility

    $130.40

    $13.62 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 31235

    Office

    $297.07

    Facility

    $135.24

    $24.29 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 31235

    Office

    $300.14

    Facility

    $136.06

    $21.22 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 31235

    Office

    $280.70

    Facility

    $132.14

    $40.66 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 31235

    Office

    $277.59

    Facility

    $129.20

    $43.77 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 31235

    Office

    $310.27

    Facility

    $137.92

    $11.09 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 31235

    Office

    $291.62

    Facility

    $130.82

    $29.74 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 31235

    Office

    $302.95

    Facility

    $130.60

    $18.41 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 31235

    Office

    $286.28

    Facility

    $127.20

    $35.08 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 31235

    Office

    $317.45

    Facility

    $138.03

    $3.91 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 31235

    Office

    $350.48

    Facility

    $150.55

    $29.12 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 31235

    Office

    $334.44

    Facility

    $146.23

    $13.08 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 31235

    Office

    $295.17

    Facility

    $137.13

    $26.19 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 31235

    Office

    $308.44

    Facility

    $135.92

    $12.92 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 31235

    Office

    $366.47

    Facility

    $161.54

    $45.11 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 31235

    Office

    $336.90

    Facility

    $148.18

    $15.54 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 31235

    Office

    $359.85

    Facility

    $156.14

    $38.49 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 31235

    Office

    $296.02

    Facility

    $132.29

    $25.34 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 31235

    Office

    $291.94

    Facility

    $134.59

    $29.42 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 31235

    Office

    $284.84

    Facility

    $130.94

    $36.52 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 31235

    Office

    $332.05

    Facility

    $140.57

    $10.69 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 31235

    Office

    $305.78

    Facility

    $134.12

    $15.58 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 31235

    Office

    $322.92

    Facility

    $143.51

    $1.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 31235

    Office

    $292.22

    Facility

    $134.01

    $29.14 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 31235

    Office

    $312.44

    Facility

    $138.20

    $8.92 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 31235

    Office

    $317.59

    Facility

    $139.55

    $3.77 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 31235

    Office

    $292.32

    Facility

    $133.07

    $29.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 31235

    Office

    $302.09

    Facility

    $129.74

    $19.27 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 31235

    Office

    $285.27

    Facility

    $128.61

    $36.09 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 31235

    Office

    $296.31

    Facility

    $134.30

    $25.05 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 31235

    Office

    $303.06

    Facility

    $133.64

    $18.30 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 31235

    Office

    $312.44

    Facility

    $138.20

    $8.92 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 31235

    Office

    $302.07

    Facility

    $131.44

    $19.29 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 31235

    Office

    $319.70

    Facility

    $138.21

    $1.66 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 31235

    Office

    $360.47

    Facility

    $149.00

    $39.11 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 31235

    Office

    $292.83

    Facility

    $127.72

    $28.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 31235

    Office

    $287.84

    Facility

    $138.07

    $33.52 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 31235

    Office

    $307.08

    Facility

    $134.73

    $14.28 lower than Austin for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

31235 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

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.

$274.40

$367.07

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$361.451
AL$278.421
AR$274.401
AZ$301.941
CA$326.38–$407.7529
CO$322.191
CT$330.941
DC$354.081
DE$306.931
FL$307.18–$337.893
GA$289.76–$316.432
GU$334.151
HI$334.151
IA$284.811
ID$286.811
IL$298.80–$327.964
IN$288.461
KS$283.801
KY$285.701
LA$285.38–$299.462
MA$320.40–$353.602
MD$312.68–$354.083
ME$288.66–$303.832
MI$293.44–$311.352
MN$307.741
MO$280.70–$300.143
MS$277.591
MT$310.271
NC$291.621
ND$302.951
NE$286.281
NH$317.451
NJ$334.44–$350.482
NM$295.171
NV$308.441
NY$296.02–$366.475
OH$291.941
OK$284.841
OR$305.78–$332.052
PA$292.22–$322.922
PR$312.441
RI$317.591
SC$292.321
SD$302.091
TN$285.271
TX$290.33–$321.368
UT$296.311
VA$303.06–$354.082
VI$312.441
VT$302.071
WA$319.70–$360.472
WI$292.831
WV$287.841
WY$307.081

Explore 31235 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Austin is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 31235 in Austin, the physician’s office rate is $321.36 and the facility-setting rate is $139.01: a difference of $182.35.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 31235 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$353.50

$321.36 × 110% = $353.50

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

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How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 31235 in Austin.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,526

Code
31235
Physician work
2.57
Practice expense
6.35
Malpractice
0.37

GPCI2026.csv

96

Locality
Austin
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office / nonfacility calculation for 31235 in Austin
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.57× 1.0022.5751
Practice expense6.35× 1.0586.7183
Malpractice0.37× 0.8860.3278
Total RVUs9.6213
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Austin$321.36

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 31235 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work2.571.002
Practice expense6.351.058
Malpractice0.370.886

(2.57 × 1.002 + 6.35 × 1.058 + 0.37 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $321.36

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work2.571.002
Practice expense1.191.058
Malpractice0.370.886

(2.57 × 1.002 + 1.19 × 1.058 + 0.37 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $139.01

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

31235 · Office / nonfacility

$321.36

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $13.31 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $308.05 to $321.36 (4.3%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $308.05changed to$321.36

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.64 changed to 2.57
    • Practice expense RVU 6.24 changed to 6.35
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.37
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.914 changed to 0.886

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $308.05

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$321.36$139.01RVU26D
2026-07-01$321.36$139.01RVU26C
2026-04-01$321.36$139.01RVU26B
2026-01-01$321.36$139.01RVU26A
2025-10-01$308.05$157.83RVU25D
2025-07-01$308.05$157.83RVU25C
2025-04-01$308.05$157.83RVU25B
2025-01-01$308.05$157.83RVU25A

31235 billing questions

How does this differ from diagnostic nasal endoscopy, 31231?

31235 includes diagnostic examination of the sphenoid sinus. Use 31231 for a diagnostic nasal examination that does not include sphenoid sinusoscopy.

How does this differ from diagnostic maxillary sinus endoscopy, 31233?

The distinction is the sinus examined: 31235 documents sphenoid sinusoscopy, while 31233 addresses maxillary sinusoscopy.

Can diagnostic sphenoid endoscopy be separately reported with sphenoid surgery?

When the same session proceeds to sphenoid surgery, compare the documented operative service with the surgical code, such as 31287 or 31288. Do not assume the diagnostic examination is separately reportable.

What modifier identifies bilateral performance?

Use modifier 50 for bilateral performance; CMS pays this procedure at 150% when reported bilaterally.

What documentation supports reporting 31235?

Document that the endoscope was used to examine the sphenoid sinus and record the diagnostic findings. A note describing only general nasal inspection does not establish sphenoid sinusoscopy.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 31235PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,526 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AustinGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)