CPT code 32666: Lung wedge resection, therapeutic, initial resection2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports an initial video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection that removes a limited portion of lung to treat a nodule, mass, or other lesion.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 32666 in Massachusetts.
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 32666 covers
A thoracic or general surgeon uses a thoracoscopic approach to remove a limited, nonanatomic portion of lung containing a lesion. The procedure is typically performed in an operating room for a nodule or mass being treated by excision, rather than removed solely to establish a diagnosis. The specimen is submitted for examination, with the operative record identifying the target and the lung tissue removed.
Report 32666 for the initial therapeutic wedge resection. Documentation should establish the therapeutic purpose, thoracoscopic approach, lesion location, and extent of resection; additional wedge resections in the same lobe may be reported with add-on code 32667 when supported. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. For bilateral procedures, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeons require 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.
Where 32666 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | Unavailable | $893.39 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | Unavailable | $835.58 |
How the 32666 rate is calculated
Each of 32666’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 · 32666
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work14.14
14.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.42
7.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.56
3.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
25.1200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$839.03
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32666
32666 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 32666
Lung wedge resection, therapeutic, initial resection
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.76/0.14 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 32666
Lung wedge resection, therapeutic, initial resection
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
32666 without 50 · national facility
$839.03
Lung wedge resection, therapeutic, initial resection
32666-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,258.55
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).
32666 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 32667Lung wedge resectionEach additional resection
- 32666 reports the initial therapeutic wedge resection. 32667 is the add-on for each additional therapeutic wedge resection in the same lobe.
- 32668Thoracoscopic wedgeEach additional diagnostic resection
- Use 32668 when the lung wedge is diagnostic. Use 32666 when the wedge is performed therapeutically to remove a lesion.
- 32608Thoracoscopic biopsyPulmonary nodule or mass
- 32608 is for thoracoscopic biopsy of a lung nodule; 32666 describes therapeutic removal of a wedge of lung containing a lesion.
- 32663Thoracoscopic lobectomySingle pulmonary lobe
- 32663 describes removal of a lung lobe. 32666 removes a limited wedge rather than an entire lobe.
32666 billing questions
How is a therapeutic wedge resection distinguished from a diagnostic wedge?
Use 32666 when the wedge is performed to treat the lesion by removing it. A wedge performed to obtain tissue for diagnosis is reported with 32668.
Can additional wedge resections be reported with 32666?
Code 32667 is the add-on for each additional therapeutic wedge resection in the same lobe. The operative report should identify the additional resection and its location.
When is 32608 used instead?
32608 describes thoracoscopic biopsy of a lung nodule. Choose 32666 when the surgeon removes a wedge of lung therapeutically rather than performing a nodule biopsy.
What global and multiple-procedure payment rules apply?
32666 has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a same-session multiple-procedure payment, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%.
How are bilateral procedures and assisting surgeons handled?
A bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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
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