CPT code 31520: Laryngoscopy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports direct visualization of a newborn’s larynx for diagnostic evaluation, such as investigating stridor, a weak cry, or suspected laryngeal abnormality.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 31520 in Oregon.
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 31520 covers
An otolaryngologist typically performs this direct examination to evaluate a newborn’s larynx when symptoms such as stridor or a weak cry raise concern for an airway abnormality or impaired vocal-fold movement. The clinician uses a laryngoscope to inspect the laryngeal structures and document the findings. This is the diagnostic service; a biopsy or treatment changes the code selection when that service is performed.
Report the code for a diagnostic direct laryngoscopy on a newborn, supported by documentation of the patient, indication, examination performed, and findings. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. 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 31520 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $137.45 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $131.11 |
How the 31520 rate is calculated
Each of 31520’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 · 31520
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.50
2.50 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.17
1.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.37
0.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.0400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$134.94
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 31520
The CMS indicators that decide how 31520 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 31520
Laryngoscopy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
31520 without 51 · national facility
$134.94
Laryngoscopy
31520-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$67.47
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%).
31520 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 31525Laryngoscopy
- Use 31520 for diagnostic direct laryngoscopy in a newborn; 31525 is the corresponding diagnostic direct examination for patients other than newborns.
- 31526Diagnostic laryngoscopy
- 31526 describes diagnostic direct laryngoscopy with an operating scope. Select it when that scope technique is documented rather than the newborn diagnostic service represented by 31520.
- 31505Laryngoscopy
- 31505 is diagnostic indirect laryngoscopy. Code 31520 describes direct examination of a newborn’s larynx.
- 31535Laryngeal biopsy
- 31535 is used when direct laryngoscopy includes biopsy. Use 31520 for diagnostic examination without that tissue-sampling service.
31520 billing questions
How does this differ from 31525?
31520 is the diagnostic direct laryngoscopy code for a newborn. Code 31525 is for diagnostic direct laryngoscopy in a patient who is not a newborn.
Should I report this when the laryngoscopy includes a biopsy?
Choose the code that describes the biopsy service when tissue is sampled, rather than reporting a diagnostic-only examination. The operative report should identify the tissue sampling and procedure performed.
What documentation supports 31520?
Document that the patient is a newborn, the reason for examining the larynx, the direct examination performed, and the findings. The record should make clear that the service was diagnostic.
Is same-day postoperative care separately payable?
No. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this procedure?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when the record documents medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?
When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the remaining procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
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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