CPT code 31651 is an add-on bronchoscopic procedure for placing an additional bronchial valve in a different lobe during the same session after initial valve placement, with assessment of air leak extent and airway size via bronchoscopic visualization. This code captures supplemental work in complex lung interventions and matters nationally as bronchial valve therapies expand for management of persistent air leaks and select emphysema cases. Payers commonly relevant to national coverage and reimbursement discussions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will learn the clinical context of the code, typical settings where the service is delivered, and which major payers are examined. The publication provides benchmarks and policy-relevant summaries related to billing and coding for bronchoscopic valve procedures, clarifies the add-on nature of 31651, and outlines what constitutes the additional procedure versus the primary valve placement within the same session. Data not available in the input for specific proprietary fee schedules, payer-specific coverage criteria, ICD-10 pairings, and associated taxonomies are noted as unavailable and not inferred. The focus is national in scope and intended to inform billing, coding, and administrative decision-makers about the role and classification of CPT code 31651.