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

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 North Carolina, Medicare pays $292.91 for 32555 in the office and $90.35 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$292.91Office (non-facility)
$90.35Hospital or facility
−5.8%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 North Carolina
  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 North Carolina 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. North Carolina pays $292.91. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

32555 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$292.91
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$353.57+$60.66
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$356.68+$63.77
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$331.62+$38.71
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$322.14+$29.23
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$357.22+$64.31
  7. Alaska · Alaska$359.51+$66.60

Other areas in North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 32555 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.21× 1.0002.2100
Practice expense6.88× 0.9336.4190
Malpractice0.22× 0.6390.1406
Total RVUs8.7696
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$292.91

Office: (2.21 × 1 + 6.88 × 0.933 + 0.22 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $292.91

Facility: (2.21 × 1 + 0.38 × 0.933 + 0.22 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $90.35

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, North Carolina
Same family
32554Thoracentesis, without imaging guidancePleural-fluid aspiration without imaging guidance.$244.97
Used instead
32556Pleural catheter, without imaging guidancePleural catheter placement without imaging for drainage rather than aspiration.$786.51
32557Pleural catheter, with imaging guidancePleural catheter placement with imaging for drainage rather than aspiration.$608.13
32550Pleural catheter, tunneled catheter with cuffTunneled pleural catheter placement for ongoing drainage.$734.63

How 32555 has changed in North Carolina

32555 · Office / nonfacility

$292.91

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $13.98 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $278.93 to $292.91 (5.0%).

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

    $278.93changed to$292.91

    • 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 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $291.89changed to$278.93

    • 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

    $287.12changed to$291.89

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $302.48changed to$287.12

    • 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 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $315.13changed to$302.48

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.19 changed to 7.02
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $316.12changed to$315.13

    • 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

    $301.58changed to$316.12

    • 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 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $289.56changed to$301.58

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.05 changed to 6.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $280.86changed to$289.56

    • 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

    $279.58changed to$280.86

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 5.78 changed to 5.80
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $279.24changed to$279.58

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Malpractice RVU 0.20 changed to 0.19
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $278.85changed to$279.24

    • 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

    $277.46changed to$278.85

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $282.77changed to$277.46

    • 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 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $609.38changed to$282.77

    • 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 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $609.38

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$292.91$90.35RVU26D
2026-07-01$292.91$90.35RVU26C
2026-04-01$292.91$90.35RVU26B
2026-01-01$292.91$90.35RVU26A
2025-10-01$278.93$99.81RVU25D
2025-07-01$278.93$99.81RVU25C
2025-04-01$278.93$99.81RVU25B
2025-01-01$278.93$99.81RVU25A
2024-10-01$291.89$102.32RVU24D
2024-07-01$291.89$102.32RVU24C
2024-04-01$291.89$102.32RVU24B
2024-03-09$291.89$102.32RVU24AR
2024-01-01$287.12$100.65RVU24A
2023-10-01$302.48$105.20RVU23D
2023-07-01$302.48$105.20RVU23C
2023-04-01$302.48$105.20RVU23B
2023-01-01$302.48$105.20RVU23A
2022-10-01$315.13$107.99RVU22D
2022-07-01$315.13$107.99RVU22C
2022-04-01$315.13$107.99RVU22B
2022-01-01$315.13$107.99RVU22A
2021-10-01$316.12$109.21RVU21D
2021-07-01$316.12$109.21RVU21C
2021-04-01$316.12$109.21RVU21B
2021-01-01$316.12$109.21RVU21A
2020-10-01$301.58$112.62RVU20D
2020-07-01$301.58$112.62RVU20C
2020-04-01$301.58$112.62RVU20B
2020-01-01$301.58$112.62RVU20A
2019-10-01$289.56$112.07RVU19D
2019-07-01$289.56$112.07RVU19C
2019-04-01$289.56$112.07RVU19B
2019-01-01$289.56$112.07RVU19A
2018-10-01$280.86$111.94RVU18D
2018-07-01$280.86$111.94RVU18C
2018-04-01$280.86$111.94RVU18B
2018-01-01$280.86$111.94RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$279.58$112.85RVU17D
2017-07-01$279.58$112.85RVU17C
2017-04-01$279.58$112.85RVU17B
2017-01-01$279.58$112.85RVU17A
2016-10-01$279.24$112.75RVU16D
2016-07-01$279.24$112.75RVU16C
2016-04-01$279.24$112.75RVU16B
2016-01-01$279.24$112.75RVU16A
2015-10-01$278.85$113.76RVU15D
2015-07-01$278.85$113.76RVU15C
2015-04-01$277.46$113.20RVU15B
2015-01-01$277.46$113.20RVU15A
2014-10-01$282.77$113.04RVU14D
2014-07-01$282.77$113.04RVU14C
2014-04-01$282.77$113.04RVU14B
2014-01-01$282.77$113.04RVU14A
2013-10-01$609.38$107.90RVU13D
2013-07-01$609.38$107.90RVU13C
2013-04-01$609.38$107.90RVU13B
2013-01-01$609.38$107.90RVU13AR

Price 32555 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

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 North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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