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CPT code 32555: Thoracentesis, with imaging guidance2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Minnesota

Reports needle or catheter aspiration of pleural fluid with imaging guidance, typically to investigate or relieve a pleural effusion.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality210.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Minnesota, Medicare pays $312.45 for 32555 in the office and $89.05 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$312.45Office (non-facility)
$89.05Hospital or facility
+0.5%vs the national office rate ($310.96)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 32555 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 32555 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Minnesota
  2. What 32555 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 32555 covers

A clinician uses a needle or catheter to remove fluid from the pleural space, with imaging guidance during the procedure. Thoracentesis may be performed to obtain fluid for diagnostic testing or to relieve symptoms from an effusion. Pulmonologists, interventional radiologists, and other clinicians who perform pleural procedures commonly provide it in hospital or outpatient settings.

Report this code when imaging guidance is used for the aspiration; the record should support the pleural-fluid indication, side treated, procedure performed, and use of imaging. The same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in its 0-day global period. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, 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.

How Minnesota compares for 32555

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 32555 runs from $275.00 in Arkansas to $417.24 in San Benito County, CA. Minnesota pays $312.45. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

32555 in Minnesota vs other payment areas
  1. Minnesota · this page$312.45
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$353.57+$41.12
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$356.68+$44.23
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$331.62+$19.17
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$322.14+$9.69
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$357.22+$44.77
  7. Alaska · Alaska$359.51+$47.06

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

Every other payment area

32555 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$279.05$89.08
ArkansasArkansas$275.00$88.50
ArizonaArizona$302.78$92.40
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$331.55$93.60
Chico, CACalifornia$330.87$92.92
El Centro, CACalifornia$330.91$92.96
Fresno, CACalifornia$330.87$92.92
Hanford, CACalifornia$330.87$92.92

32555 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$275.00

$374.06

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

View every state and territory as a table
32555 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$359.511
AL$279.051
AR$275.001
AZ$302.781
CA$330.87–$417.2429
CO$324.951
CT$331.681
DC$356.681
DE$307.831
FL$304.55–$331.623
GA$287.56–$316.342
GU$339.351
HI$339.351
IA$287.001
ID$288.711
IL$295.11–$323.364
IN$290.411
KS$285.261
KY$284.831
LA$284.23–$298.402
MA$322.83–$357.762
MD$313.86–$356.683
ME$289.80–$306.182
MI$291.92–$307.962
MN$312.451
MO$279.06–$299.953
MS$277.101
MT$310.951
NC$292.911
ND$306.601
NE$288.701
NH$319.471
NJ$335.77–$352.882
NM$293.371
NV$309.971
NY$297.29–$365.425
OH$291.031
OK$284.741
OR$307.86–$335.772
PA$291.71–$323.132
PR$313.381
RI$319.151
SC$292.401
SD$306.081
TN$286.651
TX$289.76–$323.608
UT$296.421
VA$304.90–$356.682
VI$313.381
VT$305.031
WA$322.35–$365.472
WI$296.231
WV$284.031
WY$309.051

See 32555 in every payment locality

How the 32555 rate is calculated

Each of 32555’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 · 32555

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.21

2.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.88

6.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.22

0.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

9.3100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$310.96

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

The exact Minnesota inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,734

Code
32555
Physician work
2.21
Practice expense
6.88
Malpractice
0.22

GPCI2026.csv

66

Locality
Minnesota
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
1.029
Malpractice
0.296
Office calculation for 32555 in Minnesota
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.21× 1.0002.2100
Practice expense6.88× 1.0297.0795
Malpractice0.22× 0.2960.0651
Total RVUs9.3546
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Minnesota$312.45

Office: (2.21 × 1 + 6.88 × 1.029 + 0.22 × 0.296) × $33.4009 = $312.45

Facility: (2.21 × 1 + 0.38 × 1.029 + 0.22 × 0.296) × $33.4009 = $89.05

Open 32555 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 32555

The CMS indicators that decide how 32555 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 32555

Thoracentesis, with imaging guidance

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

32555 without 50 · national office

$310.96

Thoracentesis, with imaging guidance

32555-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$466.44

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 32555

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

Codes related to 32555
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Minnesota
Same family
32554Thoracentesis, without imaging guidancePleural-fluid aspiration without imaging guidance.$261.23
Used instead
32556Pleural catheter, without imaging guidancePleural catheter placement without imaging for drainage rather than aspiration.$854.00
32557Pleural catheter, with imaging guidancePleural catheter placement with imaging for drainage rather than aspiration.$655.74
32550Pleural catheter, tunneled catheter with cuffTunneled pleural catheter placement for ongoing drainage.$790.12

How 32555 has changed in Minnesota

32555 · Office / nonfacility

$312.45

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $14.51 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $297.94 to $312.45 (4.9%).

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

    $297.94changed to$312.45

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.27 changed to 2.21
    • Practice expense RVU 6.71 changed to 6.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.21 changed to 0.22
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.029
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.300 changed to 0.296

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $311.82changed to$297.94

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 6.86 changed to 6.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.21

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $306.73changed to$311.82

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $321.54changed to$306.73

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.02 changed to 6.86
    • Malpractice RVU 0.20 changed to 0.22
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.025
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.326 changed to 0.300

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $333.05changed to$321.54

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.19 changed to 7.02
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.013 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.353 changed to 0.326

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $334.05changed to$333.05

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.14 changed to 7.19

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $317.75changed to$334.05

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 6.39 changed to 7.14
    • Malpractice RVU 0.19 changed to 0.20
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.013
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.357 changed to 0.353

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $304.72changed to$317.75

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.05 changed to 6.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.362 changed to 0.357

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $295.29changed to$304.72

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 5.80 changed to 6.05

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $294.55changed to$295.29

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 5.78 changed to 5.80
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.011
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.341 changed to 0.362

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $294.65changed to$294.55

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Malpractice RVU 0.20 changed to 0.19
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.319 changed to 0.341

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $293.99changed to$294.65

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 5.73 changed to 5.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.21 changed to 0.20

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $292.53changed to$293.99

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $297.70changed to$292.53

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 5.88 changed to 5.73
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.21
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.301 changed to 0.319

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $654.44changed to$297.70

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 16.70 changed to 5.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.22
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.282 changed to 0.301

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$654.44

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$312.45$89.05RVU26D
2026-07-01$312.45$89.05RVU26C
2026-04-01$312.45$89.05RVU26B
2026-01-01$312.45$89.05RVU26A
2025-10-01$297.94$99.67RVU25D
2025-07-01$297.94$99.67RVU25C
2025-04-01$297.94$99.67RVU25B
2025-01-01$297.94$99.67RVU25A
2024-10-01$311.82$101.98RVU24D
2024-07-01$311.82$101.98RVU24C
2024-04-01$311.82$101.98RVU24B
2024-03-09$311.82$101.98RVU24AR
2024-01-01$306.73$100.32RVU24A
2023-10-01$321.54$104.69RVU23D
2023-07-01$321.54$104.69RVU23C
2023-04-01$321.54$104.69RVU23B
2023-01-01$321.54$104.69RVU23A
2022-10-01$333.05$106.94RVU22D
2022-07-01$333.05$106.94RVU22C
2022-04-01$333.05$106.94RVU22B
2022-01-01$333.05$106.94RVU22A
2021-10-01$334.05$108.18RVU21D
2021-07-01$334.05$108.18RVU21C
2021-04-01$334.05$108.18RVU21B
2021-01-01$334.05$108.18RVU21A
2020-10-01$317.75$112.13RVU20D
2020-07-01$317.75$112.13RVU20C
2020-04-01$317.75$112.13RVU20B
2020-01-01$317.75$112.13RVU20A
2019-10-01$304.72$111.98RVU19D
2019-07-01$304.72$111.98RVU19C
2019-04-01$304.72$111.98RVU19B
2019-01-01$304.72$111.98RVU19A
2018-10-01$295.29$111.86RVU18D
2018-07-01$295.29$111.86RVU18C
2018-04-01$295.29$111.86RVU18B
2018-01-01$295.29$111.86RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$294.55$112.60RVU17D
2017-07-01$294.55$112.60RVU17C
2017-04-01$294.55$112.60RVU17B
2017-01-01$294.55$112.60RVU17A
2016-10-01$294.65$112.05RVU16D
2016-07-01$294.65$112.05RVU16C
2016-04-01$294.65$112.05RVU16B
2016-01-01$294.65$112.05RVU16A
2015-10-01$293.99$112.93RVU15D
2015-07-01$293.99$112.93RVU15C
2015-04-01$292.53$112.37RVU15B
2015-01-01$292.53$112.37RVU15A
2014-10-01$297.70$112.08RVU14D
2014-07-01$297.70$112.08RVU14C
2014-04-01$297.70$112.08RVU14B
2014-01-01$297.70$112.08RVU14A
2013-10-01$654.44$106.98RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 32555 for an earlier date of service

Where the Minnesota rate applies

Minnesota is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 916 cities and communities in Minnesota. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ada
  • Adams
  • Adrian
  • Afton
  • Aitkin
  • Akeley
  • Albany
  • Albert Lea

Browse all communities in Minnesota

32555 billing questions

When should 32555 be chosen over 32554?

Use 32555 when imaging guidance is used during pleural-fluid aspiration. Code 32554 describes aspiration without imaging guidance.

Can imaging guidance be billed separately?

Imaging guidance is part of 32555. Do not report separate imaging guidance for that same aspiration.

How is bilateral thoracentesis reported?

For bilateral treatment, report the procedure with modifier 50; CMS pays it at 150%.

What documentation supports 32555?

Document the indication for aspiration, the side treated, the fluid-removal procedure, and that imaging guidance was used.

Does 32555 describe ongoing pleural drainage?

No. It describes aspiration of pleural fluid. Catheter-placement codes such as 32556 or 32557 apply when a catheter is inserted for drainage.

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 32555PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,734 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MinnesotaGPCI2026.csv, line 66 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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