CPT code 32659: Pericardial drainage, thoracoscopic approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Mexico

In New Mexico, Medicare pays $716.86 for 32659 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 32659 nationwide

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

What 32659 covers

A thoracic surgeon uses a thoracoscope to reach and drain fluid from the sac surrounding the heart. In an operating room, this may involve creating a pericardial window so fluid can drain into the chest. The service is used for pericardial effusions requiring surgical drainage; it is distinct from needle drainage through the skin.

Report 32659 when the operative work is thoracoscopic drainage of the pericardial sac. The operative note should establish the thoracoscopic approach, the pericardial fluid or collection treated, and the drainage performed; distinguish this from removal of a foreign body or excision of pericardium. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 32659

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 32659 runs from $636.81 in Arkansas to $882.18 in Alaska. New Mexico pays $716.86. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

32659 rates by state

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

See 32659 in every payment locality

How the 32659 rate is calculated

Each of 32659’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 32659

32659 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 32659

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

How 32659 has changed in New Mexico

Price 32659 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

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