$198.38
31505 is an indirect diagnostic examination without biopsy. Choose 31510 when an indirect laryngoscopy includes biopsy.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
31505 Laryngoscopy Medicare reimbursement rates in Kentucky
Report an indirect diagnostic laryngoscopy for mirror-based examination of the larynx, such as evaluation of persistent hoarseness or suspected vocal-fold abnormality. Compare 31505 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Kentucky.
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.
What does Medicare pay for 31505 in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$80.94
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Kentucky
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$42.04
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Kentucky
One mapped payment locality.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Otolaryngology
About 31505: Indirect diagnostic larynx examination
Report an indirect diagnostic laryngoscopy for mirror-based examination of the larynx, such as evaluation of persistent hoarseness or suspected vocal-fold abnormality.
CPT 31505 covers an indirect diagnostic examination of the larynx, typically using a laryngeal mirror to view the vocal folds and surrounding structures. An otolaryngologist commonly performs the exam in an office or clinic when evaluating persistent hoarseness, voice change, throat symptoms, or a suspected laryngeal abnormality. It describes examination only, not biopsy, lesion removal, or another therapeutic procedure.
Report the code when the indirect examination is a distinct service, rather than an integral part of a more extensive laryngeal procedure. Document the indication, examination method, structures viewed, and findings. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 31505
- Global period
- Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
- Assistant at surgery
- Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.59 · 22%
- Practice expense (office) RVU1.99 · 75%
- Malpractice RVU0.07 · 3%
3.9K
Medicare services in 2024 · #2020 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.
31505 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Kentucky, from the same CMS release.
$233.12
31505 is an indirect examination, typically using a mirror; 31525 describes diagnostic direct laryngoscopy.
$116.66
31505 is mirror-based indirect laryngoscopy. 31575 is the diagnostic examination performed with a flexible fiberoptic scope.
Compare 31505 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Kentucky →
Office / nonfacility
$80.94
Facility
$42.04
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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 31505 in Kentucky.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
3,575
- Code
- 31505
- Physician work
- 0.59
- Practice expense
- 1.99
- Malpractice
- 0.07
GPCI2026.csv
55
- Locality
- Kentucky
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.889
- Malpractice
- 0.915
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.59 | × 1.000 | 0.5900 |
| Practice expense | 1.99 | × 0.889 | 1.7691 |
| Malpractice | 0.07 | × 0.915 | 0.0641 |
| Total RVUs | 2.4232 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Kentucky$80.94
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.59 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 1.99 | 0.889 |
| Malpractice | 0.07 | 0.915 |
(0.59 × 1 + 1.99 × 0.889 + 0.07 × 0.915) × $33.4009 = $80.94
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.59 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 0.68 | 0.889 |
| Malpractice | 0.07 | 0.915 |
(0.59 × 1 + 0.68 × 0.889 + 0.07 × 0.915) × $33.4009 = $42.04
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.
31505 billing questions
When should 31505 be chosen over 31525?
Use 31505 for an indirect examination, typically with a laryngeal mirror. Use 31525 when the diagnostic examination is performed by direct laryngoscopy.
Can 31505 be reported with a biopsy code?
When a biopsy is performed as part of the laryngoscopy, select the procedure code describing that service, such as 31510 for indirect laryngoscopy with biopsy. Do not separately report 31505 for an examination integral to the biopsy procedure.
How does 31505 differ from flexible laryngoscopy?
31505 describes indirect mirror examination. Use 31575 for diagnostic laryngoscopy performed with a flexible fiberoptic scope.
Does 31505 have a global period?
It has a 0-day global period. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Should modifier 50 be appended for both sides?
No. CMS indicates that bilateral adjustment does not apply and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
How are multiple procedures in the same session paid?
CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction to the other procedures in that session.
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.
3,5723142F,,Barium swallow test ordered,I,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,9,9,9,9,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,57331500,,Insert emergency airway,A,,2.93,0.57,NA,0.57,,0.48,3.98,3.98,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,57431502,,Change of windpipe airway,A,,0.63,0.20,NA,0.20,,0.08,0.91,0.91,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,57531505,,Diagnostic laryngoscopy,A,,0.59,1.99,,0.68,,0.07,2.65,1.34,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,5763150F,,Forceps esoph biopsy done,I,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,9,9,9,9,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,57731510,,Laryngoscopy with biopsy,A,,1.87,4.31,,1.02,,0.26,6.44,3.15,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,3,0,0,0,0,9,31505,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3,57831511,,Remove foreign body larynx,A,,2.11,3.90,,1.08,,0.30,6.31,3.49,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,3,0,1,0,0,9,31505,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5208102,IN,00,INDIANA,1.000,0.927,0.486
5305102,IA,00,IOWA,1.000,0.915,0.397
5405202,KS,00,KANSAS,1.000,0.904,0.504
5515102,KY,00,KENTUCKY,1.000,0.889,0.915
5607202,LA,01,NEW ORLEANS,1.000,0.941,1.136
5707202,LA,99,REST OF LOUISIANA,1.000,0.885,0.958
5814112,ME,03,SOUTHERN MAINE,1.000,0.991,0.631