CPT code 31648 designates bronchoscopic removal of one or more previously placed bronchial valves. The procedure involves endoscopic visualization of the bronchial tree and extraction of implanted valves, typically performed in outpatient settings such as hospital outpatient departments or ambulatory surgical centers. This code captures a focused, device-related airway procedure that is relevant to interventional pulmonology and thoracic surgery practices.

Nationally, accurate coding for device removal procedures like 31648 matters for quality tracking, device lifecycle management, and appropriate reimbursement for complex bronchoscopic services. Key payers included in this coverage set are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will learn the clinical context for use of the code, common sites of service, and which major payers are relevant to coverage and claims adjudication. The publication provides benchmarks and policy context where available, explains clinical indications implied by the procedure, and highlights documentation elements that typically support billing for a bronchoscopic valve removal. Data not available in the input for specific modifiers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes is noted elsewhere in the full publication.