CPT code 31649 is an add-on bronchoscopic procedure code for removal of one or more bronchial valves from an additional lobe of the lung during the same session after valves have been removed from an initial lobe. It captures a specific incremental service tied to bronchoscopic explantation of endobronchial valves and is relevant for billing when multiple lobes are treated in a single encounter. Nationally, the code matters because it ensures separate reporting and potential incremental payment for additional lobes treated during complex bronchoscopy sessions.

Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for valve removal and the service setting, plus what to expect in a national benchmarking and policy context. The publication outlines how the code is used in practice, typical sites of service, relationships to related bronchoscopy services, and where to look for payer guidance and authorization requirements.

The report provides benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement (where available), notes relevant coding considerations, and summarizes clinical circumstances in which bronchial valve removal add-on reporting is applicable. Data not available in the input will be identified as such in the detailed sections.