CPT Code 31592Complete Billing & Coding Guide (2026)Cricotracheal resection
About CPT 31592
CPT 31592 is a Current Procedural Terminology code in the Surgery (Respiratory/Cardiovascular) category maintained by the American Medical Association. The CMS short descriptor reads "Cricotracheal resection". For the full AMA long descriptor and clinical guidance, refer to the current CPT code manual.
Major surgical codes carry a 90-day global period that bundles all related post-operative care. Improper billing of post-op E/M (without modifier 24 for unrelated care) is a common audit finding. Documentation of medical necessity for the procedure itself remains the foundation of any successful claim.
CPT 31592 has a 90-day global period. Any E/M visit within that window for the same condition is bundled into the procedure payment. Use modifier 24 for unrelated E/M, modifier 79 for unrelated procedures, and modifier 78 for related returns to the OR.
Code Properties
RVU Breakdown
Every CPT code’s Medicare payment is calculated from three Relative Value Unit components: physician work, practice expense, and malpractice. Together they multiply by the conversion factor to produce the payment amount.
Payment = Total RVU × Conversion Factor ($33.4009) × Geographic Adjustment (GPCI). National averages shown. Actual payment varies by locality.
Medicare Payment by State
Medicare adjusts payment by locality based on GPCI (Geographic Practice Cost Index). Higher cost-of-living areas like California and New York pay more. Rural states pay less. Top 12 states shown.
Showing top 12 of 53 states. Full locality data available in CMS PFS Locality file.
NCCI Bundling Edits
10 pairsThese codes trigger National Correct Coding Initiative edits when billed with 31592. An indicator of 0 means the pair cannot be unbundled. Indicator 1 means modifier 59 or X-modifiers may allow separate billing with supporting documentation.
31592 + 00520: hard bundle (indicator 0)
The most-asked bundling question on this code. Verdict pulled from the current NCCI quarterly file.
Modifier indicator 0 means this edit cannot be bypassed. Do not append modifier 59 or X-modifiers. The bundled code must be written off, or, if clinically inappropriate, the entire claim reconsidered.
Anesthesia service included in surgical procedure
Billing 31592 alongside a bundled code without the correct modifier generates CARC 97 denials. Payers often flag these as audit risks. Document medical necessity for the separate service and apply modifier 59 or the appropriate X-modifier (XE, XS, XP, XU) only when clinically justified.
Anesthesia service included in surgical procedure
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
CPT Manual or CMS manual coding instruction
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
Multi-procedure NCCI edits hit surgical specialties harder than any other category. CO-97 denials on 31592 are frequently recoverable when the operative note documents distinct anatomic sites or staged steps. Our coders read the op note against the edit pair and pick the right modifier (XS preferred over modifier 59 for distinct structures).
Got a CO-97 on 31592 and 00520? Send us the EOB before you write it off.
Indicator 0 means no modifier bypasses the edit. A real coder should confirm before the charge is written off. Some look-alike edits get appealed successfully on documentation grounds.
Remove patient name, DOB, and member ID before pasting.
Applicable Modifiers
Modifiers commonly paired with 31592 based on its category. Apply only when the clinical circumstance warrants. Incorrect modifier use is a top audit target.
Modifier 24, 79, 78, and 58 on global-period claims are the highest-recovery surgical billing levers. 31592 carries a 090 global indicator. Our team flags every encounter inside an active global period for the right modifier decision.
Find the revenue leakage in your 31592 claims.
Wrong modifier, missing documentation, bundling without justification, stale ICD-10 linkage: these are the silent revenue killers on Surgery (Respiratory/Cardiovascular) claims. Our AAPC-certified team audits your last 90 days of 31592 claims, surfaces the recoverable dollars, and appeals them. Free, no obligation.
Losing revenue on CPT 31592? We’ll find it.
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Related CPT Codes
Codes in the same family as 31592
Everything about CPT 31592
What does CPT code 31592 cover?
CPT 31592 is a Current Procedural Terminology code in the Surgery (Respiratory/Cardiovascular) category maintained by the American Medical Association. The CMS short descriptor reads "Cricotracheal resection". For the full AMA long descriptor and clinical guidance, refer to the current CPT code manual.
What is the Medicare payment for CPT 31592?
The national average Medicare payment for CPT 31592 is approximately $1531.1 in a non-facility setting and $1531.1 in a facility setting. Actual payment varies by locality based on GPCI adjustments. Total RVU is 45.84 with a conversion factor of $33.4009.
What is the global period for CPT 31592?
CPT 31592 has a 90-day global period (indicator 090). Routine post-op care for the next 90 days is bundled into the procedure payment, including all related E/M visits. Bill modifier 24 for unrelated E/M, modifier 79 for unrelated procedures, or modifier 78 for related returns to the OR during this window.
What codes bundle with CPT 31592?
CPT 31592 has NCCI Procedure-to-Procedure edits with 10+ codes including 00520, 0213T, 0216T. Modifier indicator 0 means the edit cannot be bypassed. Indicator 1 means modifier 59 or X-modifiers may allow separate billing with documentation.
CPT codes and descriptions are copyright of the American Medical Association. RVU values reflect current CMS publications. Actual payment varies by locality. Commercial payer rates vary by contract.
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We audit your last 90 days of claims and surface the revenue leakage: wrong modifiers, missed bundling appeals, ICD-10 specificity gaps. AAPC-certified coders. 2.49% of collections. No setup fees.