AetnaCommercial · Coverage · Medical Policy · ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)Medium impact
Videostroboscopy (CPB 0305, reviewed 2026-04-17)
Effective date
Not stated in the notice
Identified
Aug 19, 2026
Summary
Aetna considers videostroboscopy medically necessary as a diagnostic procedure for detecting vocal cord pathology, such as polyps, invasive carcinoma, and vocal cord paresis or paralysis, in members who have received both a mirror-image and an endoscopic examination, where no abnormal function or clinical pathology was found with those tests despite persistent symptoms. Aetna considers videostroboscopy experimental, investigational, or unproven for all other indications because its effectiveness for those indications has not been established. Aetna also considers artificial intelligence-based assessment of videostroboscopy experimental, investigational, or unproven for the diagnosis of vocal fold sulcus (sulcus vocalis).
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01Billing team: Bill videostroboscopy (CPT 31579) only for members who have received both a mirror-image and an endoscopic examination in which no abnormal function or clinical pathology was found, and who still have persistent symptoms.
02Videostroboscopy for all other indications is considered experimental, investigational, or unproven by Aetna.
03Do not bill artificial intelligence-based assessment of videostroboscopy for diagnosis of vocal fold sulcus, which the policy lists as not covered and which has no specific code.
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