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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesEndoscopy Procedures on the Trachea and BronchiCPT cpt-31646-subsequent-bronchoscopy-aspiration
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    CPT 31646: Bronchoscopy with Aspiration, Subsequent

    Medicare pays $131 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 31646 describes a subsequent bronchoscopy with aspiration using a rigid or flexible bronchoscope to visualize the tracheobronchial tree and suction fluid from the trachea, bronchi, or bronchioles; fluoroscopic guidance may or may not be used. Service type: bronchoscopic therapeutic/diagnostic aspiration. Typical site of service: inpatient or hospital-based setting during the same visit as an initial bronchoscopy when a repeat procedure is performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA), Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment, Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure.

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    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 7

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old hospitalized patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and recent left lower lobe consolidation develops increasing hypoxia and copious purulent secretions despite antibiotic therapy. The pulmonology service performs an initial flexible bronchoscopy with diagnostic sampling on hospital day 1. Over the next 24–48 hours the patient accumulates additional tracheobronchial secretions with worsening respiratory status; the team documents persistent airway obstruction and decides to perform a subsequent bronchoscopy with therapeutic aspiration to clear secretions and improve ventilation. The procedure is performed in the hospital bronchoscopy suite or the operating room with monitored anesthesia care; fluoroscopic guidance is available but not required. The workflow includes pre-procedure consent and review of coagulation status, airway assessment, brief anesthesia or sedation, flexible bronchoscope insertion, visualization of trachea and bronchi, suctioning/aspiration of secretions, sample collection as indicated, and post-procedure recovery and documentation. The use of 31646 denotes this is a subsequent bronchoscopy with aspiration during the same hospital visit following an earlier bronchoscopy.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    31622Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; diagnostic, with or without cell washingCommon initial diagnostic bronchoscopy that may precede a subsequent therapeutic aspiration coded as 31646.
    31624Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)Performed when lavage sampling is needed for microbiology or cytology; may occur during the initial or subsequent bronchoscopy.
    31640Bronchoscopy with removal of foreign body, tumor, or other obstruction by suction, forceps, or snareTherapeutic bronchoscopic removal procedures that may be performed in the same episode when aspiration alone is insufficient.
    31505Laryngoscopy, direct, with or without tracheoscopy; diagnostic, with biopsyMay be used if airway evaluation extends to the larynx or requires direct laryngoscopy prior to bronchoscopy.
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipunctureRoutine ancillary service for pre-procedure labs (coagulation studies) prior to bronchoscopy.

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207RH0000XHematology (Internal Medicine) PhysicianAn internist with additional training who specializes in diseases of the blood, spleen and lymph. This specialist treats conditions such as anemia, cl…
    207RP1001XPulmonary Disease PhysicianAn internist who treats diseases of the lungs and airways. The pulmonologist diagnoses and treats cancer, pneumonia, pleurisy, asthma, occupational an…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    1835P1200XPharmacotherapy PharmacistA licensed pharmacist who has demonstrated specialized knowledge and skill in optimizing pharmacotherapeutic care of patients, by developing, implemen…
    163WC1600XContinuing Education/Staff Development Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
    3336N0007XNuclear PharmacyA pharmacy dedicated to the compounding and dispensing of radioactive materials for use in nuclear imaging and nuclear medical procedures.
    2080I0007XPediatric Clinical & Laboratory Immunology PhysicianA pediatrician who specializes in clinical and laboratory immunology disease management.
    246QH0401XHemapheresis PractitionerTechnologists, Technicians & Other Technical Service Providers · Specialist/Technologist, Pathology

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A48.1Legionnaires' disease
    B37.1Pulmonary candidiasis
    B95.3Streptococcus pneumoniae as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    I26.99Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale
    J18.9Pneumonia, unspecified organism
    J44.9Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified
    J45.909Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated
    J60Coalworker's pneumoconiosis
    J68.4Chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
    J69.0Pneumonitis due to inhalation of food and vomit

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessmentblue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-09-15
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04
    Computed Tomography to Detect Coronary Artery CalcificationBluecross Idaho2026-09-01
    Intracoronary Drug Delivery Balloon ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-09-01
    Cardiac Imaging Guidelinesevicore2026-09-01
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Stroke PreventionAmbetter Georgia2026-08-26

    Related Codes

    CPT-31615-TRACHEOBRONCHOSCOPY-THROUGH-TRACHEAL-OPENING

    CPT 31615: Tracheobronchoscopy via Tracheostomy

    CPT-31622-DIAGNOSTIC-BRONCHOSCOPY-AIRWAY-VISUALIZATION

    CPT 31622: Diagnostic Rigid or Flexible Bronchoscopy

    CPT-31623-BRONCHOSCOPIC-BRUSHING-DIAGNOSTIC

    CPT 31623: Bronchoscopic Brushing or Protected Brushing

    CPT-31624-BRONCHIAL-ALVEOLAR-LAVAGE-BRONCHOSCOPY

    CPT 31624: Bronchial Alveolar Lavage via Bronchoscopy

    CPT-31625-BRONCHIAL-ENDOBRONCHIAL-BIOPSY-BRONCHOSCOPY

    CPT 31625: Bronchial or Endobronchial Biopsy via Bronchoscopy

    CPT-31626-BRONCHOSCOPIC-MARKER-PLACEMENT

    CPT 31626: Bronchoscopic Marker Placement for Surgical Localization

    CPT-31627-IMAGE-GUIDED-BRONCHOSCOPIC-NAVIGATION

    CPT 31627: Image-Guided Navigation for Bronchoscopy

    CPT-31628-TRANSBRONCHIAL-BIOPSY-BRONCHOSCOPY-SINGLE-LOBE

    CPT 31628: Transbronchial Biopsy of Single Lobe via Bronchoscopy

    CPT-31629-TRANSBRONCHIAL-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-BRONCHOSCOPIC-BIOPSY

    CPT 31629: Transbronchial Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Trachea/Bronchus

    CPT-31630-THERAPEUTIC-BRONCHOSCOPY-AIRWAY-DILATION

    CPT 31630: Tracheal/Tracheobronchial Dilation via Bronchoscopy

    Showing 1–10 of 29

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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