Billing code 31292: Orbital decompressionMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Endoscopic decompression of both the medial and inferior orbital walls, typically performed to relieve orbital pressure or proptosis.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 31292 in Florida.
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 31292 covers
An otolaryngologist or rhinologist uses a transnasal endoscope to remove bone from the medial and inferior walls of the orbit, creating additional space for orbital contents. The procedure may be used for orbital pressure or proptosis, including in patients with thyroid eye disease, and is generally performed in an operating room. The operative report should identify the walls decompressed and the endoscopic work performed.
Report 31292 when the documented decompression includes both the medial and inferior orbital walls; medial-wall decompression alone is distinguished by 31293. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of 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 31292 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | Unavailable | $919.31 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $981.52 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $881.24 |
How the 31292 rate is calculated
Each of 31292’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 · 31292
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work15.50
15.50 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.80
7.80 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.28
2.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
25.5800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$854.40
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31292
31292 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 31292
Orbital decompression
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| 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) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 31292
Orbital decompression
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
31292 without 50 · national facility
$854.40
Orbital decompression
31292-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,281.60
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
31292 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 31293Orbital decompression
- 31293 describes medial orbital wall decompression alone. Choose 31292 when the operative report also documents inferior orbital wall decompression.
- 31294Optic nerve decompression
- 31294 is directed at optic nerve decompression. 31292 describes decompression of the medial and inferior orbital walls.
- 31255Ethmoidectomy
- 31255 describes total ethmoid sinus surgery, not orbital wall decompression. Select based on the work documented and apply endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together.
31292 billing questions
Is an optic nerve decompression reported with 31292?
31292 describes medial and inferior orbital wall decompression. A procedure directed at the optic nerve is represented by 31294, so select according to the operative target and work.
Are related postoperative visits separately reported?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in 31292.
How is bilateral decompression reported?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted under the CMS rules for this code.
What if other nasal or sinus endoscopies are performed in the same session?
Document the distinct procedures performed. CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together.
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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