CPT code 20612: Ganglion treatment, aspiration and/or injection2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $67.80 for 20612 nationally in the office and $36.74 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $60.41–$87.51.

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

What 20612 covers

This service covers needle aspiration of a ganglion cyst, injection into a ganglion cyst, or both during the same treatment. Ganglia commonly treated include those on the back of the wrist and around the fingers or feet. Orthopedic, hand, podiatric, and other clinicians may perform the procedure in an office or facility setting, often after evaluating a palpable mass or symptoms such as pain or limited motion.

Select the code when the needle procedure targets a ganglion cyst, rather than a joint or bursa. Document the cyst’s location and the treatment performed; distinguish the cyst from a joint or bursal target in the record. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When this service is performed with other procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and 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 20612 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

20612 rates by state

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

How the 20612 rate is calculated

Each of 20612’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 20612

The CMS indicators that decide how 20612 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

20612 compared with similar codes

How to choose

20600Joint aspiration/injectionSmall joint, without ultrasound

20600 is for aspiration or injection of a small joint or bursa without ultrasound guidance. Choose 20612 when treating a ganglion cyst rather than a joint or bursa.

20605Joint procedureIntermediate joint, no ultrasound

20605 applies to an intermediate joint or bursa without ultrasound guidance; it is not the code for a ganglion cyst at a nearby site.

20610Joint injectionMajor joint or bursa, no ultrasound

20610 is for a major joint or bursa without ultrasound guidance. A ganglion cyst remains the target distinction for 20612, regardless of proximity to a joint.

20611Joint aspiration/injectionUltrasound-guided major joint or bursa

20611 describes a major joint or bursa procedure with ultrasound guidance. Use 20612 for a ganglion cyst, not merely because ultrasound is used.

Codes related to 20612

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