CPT code 32607: Lung biopsy, infiltrate, thoracoscopic2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Louisiana
Thoracoscopic biopsy of lung tissue is reported when a surgeon samples an infiltrative parenchymal abnormality, rather than a discrete nodule or another thoracic site.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 32607 in Louisiana.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 32607 covers
A thoracic surgeon uses a thoracoscope to obtain lung tissue from an infiltrative parenchymal abnormality, often during evaluation of suspected interstitial or other diffuse lung disease when tissue is needed for diagnosis. The procedure is typically performed in an operating room, with specimens sent for pathologic examination. This code distinguishes lung infiltrates from discrete nodules or masses and from abnormalities in the pleura or mediastinum.
Report the service when the operative record documents thoracoscopic biopsy of lung infiltrate(s), including the sampled site and the reason tissue was obtained. The biopsy service includes the thoracoscopic inspection and access needed to perform it; a diagnostic thoracoscopy alone is a different service. The procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur 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 requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 32607 pays more and less in Louisiana
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | Unavailable | $291.41 |
| Rest of Louisiana | Unavailable | $279.82 |
How the 32607 rate is calculated
Each of 32607’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 · 32607
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.36
5.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.97
1.97 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.33
1.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
8.6600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$289.25
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32607
The CMS indicators that decide how 32607 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 32607
Lung biopsy, infiltrate, thoracoscopic
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
32607 without 51 · national facility
$289.25
Lung biopsy, infiltrate, thoracoscopic
32607-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$144.63
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%).
32607 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 32608Thoracoscopic biopsyPulmonary nodule or mass
- Use 32607 for infiltrative lung parenchymal abnormalities; use 32608 when the biopsy target is a discrete lung nodule or mass.
- 32606Thoracoscopy biopsyMediastinal mass
- Code 32606 describes biopsy of a mediastinal target, not lung tissue.
- 32609Pleural biopsyThoracoscopic approach
- Code 32609 is for pleural biopsy; 32607 is for biopsy of lung infiltrate(s).
- 32601Diagnostic thoracoscopyWithout biopsy
- Code 32601 describes diagnostic thoracoscopy without the lung biopsy service reported under 32607.
32607 billing questions
How is this different from code 32608?
Report 32607 for biopsy of lung infiltrate(s). Code 32608 is for biopsy of a discrete lung nodule or mass.
Can diagnostic thoracoscopy be reported separately?
When thoracoscopy is performed to obtain the lung biopsy, the inspection and access needed for that procedure are included. Code 32601 describes diagnostic thoracoscopy when no surgical biopsy service is performed.
Does each tissue sample support another unit?
The code describes biopsy of infiltrate(s), so multiple samples from the same operative service do not by themselves establish separate units. Document the sampled sites and specimens.
Should modifier 50 be used for bilateral biopsies?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
How does the 0-day global period affect same-day care?
Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure's 0-day global period.
When can an assistant-at-surgery be paid?
Payment for an assistant at surgery requires documentation that the assistance was medically necessary. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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
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