Vocal Fold Augmentation Injections in the Office

Question:

What code do I use for a vocal fold injection for augmentation in the office? Can I also bill for the injection material?

Answer:

Good questions! The correct code is 31574,Laryngoscopy, flexible; with injection(s) for augmentation (eg, percutaneous, transoral), unilateralwhen performed via flexible laryngoscopy. If you’re in place of service 11 (physician office), you would NOT separately code for the injection material (J code), to Medicare, because the payment includes the practice expense for the injection material. If you’re in place of service 22 (hospital based clinic), then your payment for 31574 will not include the injection material because the facility (hospital) will have borne the expense for that cost. Finally, if you harvest fat graft via liposuction to be injected into the vocal cord then you may separately report 15773/+15774 depending on the amount of fat injected (not amount of fat harvested).

*This response is based on the best information available as of 05/05/22.