CPT code 19083: Breast biopsy, first lesion, ultrasound-guided2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $475.63 for 19083 nationally in the office and $130.60 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $418.88–$642.08.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 19083 covers

Code 19083 describes percutaneous sampling of one breast lesion selected under ultrasound guidance. The clinician advances a biopsy device into the target while observing it with ultrasound; marker placement and imaging of the removed specimen are included when performed. Breast radiologists and other clinicians qualified to perform image-guided breast procedures use it for an ultrasound-visible mass or other target requiring tissue diagnosis, in office-based imaging suites or hospital imaging departments.

Report 19083 for the first lesion sampled with ultrasound guidance during the session; report 19084 for each additional lesion biopsied with that same guidance modality. The record should identify the target and side, ultrasound localization, biopsy technique, tissue obtained, and any marker placement. Ultrasound guidance and specimen imaging are included in the service. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%; bilateral performance with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 19083 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

19083 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 19083 rate is calculated

Each of 19083’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

Payment rules and modifiers for 19083

The CMS indicators that decide how 19083 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

19083 compared with similar codes

How to choose

19081Breast biopsyStereotactic, first lesion

Both cover biopsy of the first lesion, but 19081 is selected for stereotactic guidance; 19083 is selected for ultrasound guidance.

19084Breast biopsyAdditional lesion, ultrasound-guided

19083 reports the first ultrasound-guided lesion in the session. 19084 reports each additional lesion biopsied using ultrasound guidance.

19085Breast biopsyFirst lesion, MRI guidance

19085 is for the first lesion biopsied with MRI guidance; 19083 is for the first lesion biopsied with ultrasound guidance.

19082Breast biopsyAdditional stereotactic lesion

19082 reports an additional lesion biopsied with stereotactic guidance. For an additional ultrasound-guided lesion, use 19084.

Codes related to 19083

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates