CPT code 32408: Core biopsy, lung or mediastinum2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Mexico

Reports a percutaneous core-needle biopsy of a lung or mediastinal target, with imaging guidance included when performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality44.2K Medicare services in 2024

In New Mexico, Medicare pays $749.36 for 32408 in the office and $131.58 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$749.36Office (non-facility)
$131.58Hospital or facility
−6.8%vs the national office rate ($804.29)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 32408 nationwide

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

We’ll open 32408 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in New Mexico
  2. What 32408 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 32408 covers

A physician, commonly a radiologist or interventional radiologist, passes a core needle through the chest wall to obtain tissue from a lung lesion or mediastinal target. The procedure is commonly performed in a hospital or outpatient imaging setting, often with CT or other imaging used to guide needle placement. Imaging guidance is included in the biopsy service when performed; this code distinguishes a percutaneous core-tissue sample from a bronchoscopic biopsy or a biopsy of the pleura.

Select the code when the documented approach is percutaneous and the specimen is obtained with a core needle from lung or mediastinum. The record should identify the target, approach, and tissue sampling performed; note imaging guidance when used. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When other procedures are performed 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. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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.

How New Mexico compares for 32408

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 32408 runs from $701.58 in Arkansas to $1,115.13 in San Benito County, CA. New Mexico pays $749.36. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

32408 in New Mexico vs other payment areas
  1. New Mexico · this page$749.36
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$930.88+$181.52
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$933.88+$184.52
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$849.92+$100.56
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$823.17+$73.81
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$929.26+$179.90
  7. Alaska · Alaska$895.78+$146.42

Other areas in New Mexico first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

32408 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$713.19$123.71
ArkansasArkansas$701.58$122.88
ArizonaArizona$781.29$128.48
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$868.00$129.63
Chico, CACalifornia$866.97$128.60
El Centro, CACalifornia$867.02$128.65
Fresno, CACalifornia$866.97$128.60
Hanford, CACalifornia$866.97$128.60

32408 rates by state

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

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$701.58

$991.05

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
32408 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$895.781
AL$713.191
AR$701.581
AZ$781.291
CA$866.97–$1,115.1329
CO$847.171
CT$861.831
DC$933.881
DE$795.391
FL$779.67–$849.923
GA$732.02–$817.922
GU$893.961
HI$893.961
IA$738.851
ID$743.161
IL$750.71–$832.404
IN$748.131
KS$732.481
KY$726.811
LA$724.54–$765.162
MA$840.18–$941.032
MD$812.67–$933.883
ME$744.85–$793.902
MI$745.78–$787.962
MN$816.291
MO$708.86–$771.233
MS$705.501
MT$804.271
NC$754.001
ND$797.551
NE$744.151
NH$831.141
NJ$872.96–$921.892
NM$749.361
NV$803.091
NY$766.45–$950.955
OH$744.411
OK$728.001
OR$798.16–$879.572
PA$747.14–$836.612
PR$811.711
RI$827.781
SC$750.201
SD$796.751
TN$736.301
TX$741.44–$843.198
UT$761.771
VA$789.24–$933.882
VI$811.711
VT$791.791
WA$839.46–$963.892
WI$767.481
WV$718.881
WY$801.341

See 32408 in every payment locality

How the 32408 rate is calculated

Each of 32408’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.

How the rate is built · 32408

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.10

3.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense20.64

20.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.34

0.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

24.0800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$804.29

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact New Mexico inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,711

Code
32408
Physician work
3.10
Practice expense
20.64
Malpractice
0.34

GPCI2026.csv

77

Locality
New Mexico
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.917
Malpractice
1.201
Office calculation for 32408 in New Mexico
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.10× 1.0003.1000
Practice expense20.64× 0.91718.9269
Malpractice0.34× 1.2010.4083
Total RVUs22.4352
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, New Mexico$749.36

Office: (3.1 × 1 + 20.64 × 0.917 + 0.34 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $749.36

Facility: (3.1 × 1 + 0.47 × 0.917 + 0.34 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $131.58

Open 32408 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 32408

The CMS indicators that decide how 32408 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 32408

Core biopsy, lung or mediastinum

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

32408 without 51 · national office

$804.29

Core biopsy, lung or mediastinum

32408-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$402.15

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

How 32408 has changed in New Mexico

32408 · Office / nonfacility

$749.36

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $17.75 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $731.61 to $749.36 (2.4%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release
  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $731.61changed to$749.36

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.18 changed to 3.10
    • Practice expense RVU 21.02 changed to 20.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.34
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.917
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.172 changed to 1.201

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $773.62changed to$731.61

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 21.68 changed to 21.02
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.30

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $760.99changed to$773.62

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $805.86changed to$760.99

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 22.45 changed to 21.68
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.32
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.172
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $836.28changed to$805.86

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 23.07 changed to 22.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.166 changed to 1.169

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $880.32changed to$836.28

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 24.27 changed to 23.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.27

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    No ratechanged to$880.32

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1, RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D, RVU19A, RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D, RVU20A, RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$749.36$131.58RVU26D
2026-07-01$749.36$131.58RVU26C
2026-04-01$749.36$131.58RVU26B
2026-01-01$749.36$131.58RVU26A
2025-10-01$731.61$143.31RVU25D
2025-07-01$731.61$143.31RVU25C
2025-04-01$731.61$143.31RVU25B
2025-01-01$731.61$143.31RVU25A
2024-10-01$773.62$147.35RVU24D
2024-07-01$773.62$147.35RVU24C
2024-04-01$773.62$147.35RVU24B
2024-03-09$773.62$147.35RVU24AR
2024-01-01$760.99$144.95RVU24A
2023-10-01$805.86$149.91RVU23D
2023-07-01$805.86$149.91RVU23C
2023-04-01$805.86$149.91RVU23B
2023-01-01$805.86$149.91RVU23A
2022-10-01$836.28$151.95RVU22D
2022-07-01$836.28$151.95RVU22C
2022-04-01$836.28$151.95RVU22B
2022-01-01$836.28$151.95RVU22A
2021-10-01$880.32$152.80RVU21D
2021-07-01$880.32$152.80RVU21C
2021-04-01$880.32$152.80RVU21B
2021-01-01$880.32$152.80RVU21A
2020-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU20D
2020-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU20C
2020-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU20B
2020-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU20A
2019-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU19D
2019-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU19C
2019-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU19B
2019-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU19A
2018-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU18D
2018-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU18C
2018-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU18B
2018-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17D
2017-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17C
2017-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17B
2017-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17A
2016-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16D
2016-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16C
2016-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16B
2016-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16A
2015-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15D
2015-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15C
2015-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15B
2015-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15A
2014-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14D
2014-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14C
2014-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14B
2014-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14A
2013-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13D
2013-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13C
2013-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13B
2013-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13AR

Price 32408 for an earlier date of service

Where the New Mexico rate applies

New Mexico is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 528 cities and communities in New Mexico. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abeytas
  • Abiquiu
  • Acomita Lake
  • Adelino
  • Agua Fria
  • Alamillo
  • Alamo
  • Alamogordo

Browse all communities in New Mexico

32408 billing questions

Does this code include imaging guidance?

Yes. Imaging guidance is included when performed to guide the percutaneous core biopsy, so do not separately report guidance for that biopsy service.

How does this differ from a pleural biopsy?

Use this code for a percutaneous core sample of lung or mediastinum. Code 32400 describes a needle biopsy of the chest lining, or pleura.

Can this be reported with a bronchoscopic biopsy code?

The approach distinguishes the services: this code is for a percutaneous chest-wall route, while codes such as 31628 or 31629 describe bronchoscopic sampling. If multiple procedures are performed in one session, the standard multiple-procedure reduction applies.

What should the procedure note document?

Document the lung or mediastinal target, the percutaneous route, and that a core tissue sample was obtained. Record imaging guidance when it was used.

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?

Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted; co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting are not permitted.

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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 32408PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,711 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for New MexicoGPCI2026.csv, line 77 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 32408 pays in New Mexico?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 32408 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist