Billing code 31002: Sinus irrigationMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports lavage of the sphenoid sinus, typically by an otolaryngologist treating retained secretions or inflammatory material in that sinus.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 31002 in Ohio.
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 31002 covers
This service involves introducing irrigation fluid into the sphenoid sinus and flushing or clearing its contents. Otolaryngologists typically perform it for a patient with sphenoid sinus disease and retained secretions, often in an office or outpatient setting. The record should identify the sphenoid sinus treated and describe the irrigation performed; symptoms or a diagnosis alone do not establish that lavage occurred.
Report the code for the sphenoid sinus irrigation itself, rather than for operative exploration or creation of a sinus opening. If both sphenoid sinuses are treated, CMS recognizes bilateral reporting with modifier 50, paid at 150%. The service has a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. An assistant is paid only when medical necessity is documented; 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.
31002 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $158.93 |
How the 31002 rate is calculated
Each of 31002’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 · 31002
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.91Practice expense 2.91Malpractice 0.19
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31002
31002 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 31002
Sinus irrigation
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| 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 · 31002
Sinus irrigation
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
31002 without 50 · national facility
$167.34
Sinus irrigation
31002-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$251.01
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).
31002 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
31002 vs 31000 vs 31050 vs 31287 vs 31288: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 31000Sinus irrigation
- Both codes describe sinus irrigation, but 31000 is for the maxillary sinus; 31002 is for the sphenoid sinus.
- 31050Sphenoid sinus surgery
- 31002 reports sphenoid sinus irrigation. Choose 31050 when the documented service is sphenoid sinus exploration.
- 31287Sphenoidotomy
- 31287 describes endoscopic sphenoidotomy, not irrigation. Select it when the operative service is creation or enlargement of the sphenoid opening.
- 31288Sphenoid surgery
- 31288 is the endoscopic sphenoidotomy code when tissue is removed from the sinus; 31002 reports irrigation.
31002 billing questions
How is sphenoid irrigation different from sphenoid exploration?
Use this code when the documented service is irrigation of the sphenoid sinus. Exploration is a different operative service and should be selected when exploration, rather than lavage, was performed.
Can modifier 50 be reported when both sphenoid sinuses are irrigated?
Yes. CMS identifies the procedure as bilateral with modifier 50, paid at 150%; document that irrigation was performed on both sides.
Are related postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
How does the multiple-procedure reduction work?
When procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.
Can an assistant or another surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document the sphenoid sinus treated and the irrigation performed. A diagnosis of sinusitis without documentation of lavage does not describe this service.
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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