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    OpenPayerBilling CodesIntroduction Procedures on the Trachea and BronchiCPT cpt-31720-nasopharyngeal-tracheal-suctioning
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    CPT 31720: Tracheal and Nasopharyngeal Suctioning to Remove Secretions

    Medicare pays $46 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 31720 describes removal of excess secretions or aspiration from the nasopharynx and trachea using a suction catheter; this is an airway clearance suctioning procedure typically performed as a diagnostic/therapeutic airway suctioning service in acute care settings such as the hospital inpatient or emergency department, or at the bedside in other facility-based environments where airway management is required.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient for 31720 is an adult or pediatric patient with retained upper airway secretions who requires nasopharyngeal and tracheal suctioning to maintain a patent airway. A common scenario is a hospitalized patient on supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation who develops copious secretions due to pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, or impaired cough reflex (for example after stroke or sedation). The clinical workflow includes assessment of airway patency and respiratory status by a respiratory therapist or physician, application of appropriate infection control and aerosol precautions, pre-oxygenation if hypoxic, insertion of a sterile suction catheter into the nasopharynx or trachea (via artificial airway if present), aspiration of secretions while monitoring oxygenation and heart rate, and documentation of indications, technique, catheter size, amount and character of secretions, patient response, and any complications. The procedure is typically performed in an inpatient acute care unit, intensive care unit, emergency department, or skilled nursing facility when needed at bedside.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    94002Ventilation assist and management, initiation of pressure or volume preset ventilators for assisted or controlled ventilation; inpatientManagement of mechanical ventilation often accompanies endotracheal suctioning in ventilated patients.
    31500Intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedureEndotracheal intubation provides an airway through which tracheal suctioning (31720) may be performed.
    31575Laryngoscopy, flexible; diagnosticFlexible laryngoscopy may be used to evaluate airway anatomy and secretions prior to targeted suctioning.
    94010Bronchospasm evaluation (spirometry)Pulmonary function testing is sometimes performed in outpatient evaluation of secretion management (less directly related).
    31505Cricothyrotomy, emergencySurgical airway procedures may precede or follow suctioning in cases of airway obstruction.

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207R00000X
    372500000X
    282N00000X
    207ZP0007X
    276400000X
    2084H0002X
    133VN1501X
    207PE0005X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    B97.89Other viral agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    E86.0Dehydration
    F03.90Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety
    G47.33Obstructive sleep apnea (adult) (pediatric)
    I63.9Cerebral infarction, unspecified
    I69.391Dysphagia following cerebral infarction
    J10.1Influenza due to other identified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations
    J15.9Unspecified bacterial pneumonia
    J18.9Pneumonia, unspecified organism

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    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
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-31717-TRACHEAL-BRUSH-BIOPSY-AIRWAY-SAMPLING

    CPT 31717: Tracheal Brush Biopsy via Catheter

    CPT-31725-FIBERSCOPE-ASSISTED-TRACHEOBRONCHIAL-SUCTIONING

    CPT 31725: Fiberoptic-Guided Tracheobronchial Suctioning

    CPT-31730-TRACHEAL-CATHETER-OXYGEN-ADMINISTRATION

    CPT 31730: Tracheal Oxygen Administration via Catheter

    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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