FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 32960: Therapeutic pneumothorax, intrapleural air introduction2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Galveston, TX

Reports deliberate introduction of air into the pleural space to create a therapeutic pneumothorax, rather than drainage of pleural air or fluid.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality14 Medicare services in 2024

In Galveston, TX, Medicare pays $133.40 for 32960 in the office and $81.66 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$133.40Office (non-facility)
$81.66Hospital or facility
−0.6%vs the national office rate ($134.27)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 32960 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 32960 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Galveston, TX
  2. What 32960 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 32960 covers

This service involves intentionally introducing air into the pleural space to produce a pneumothorax for therapeutic purposes. It is distinct from treating a spontaneous pneumothorax by removing air or placing a drain. The procedure is performed by a physician; documentation should establish the therapeutic intent and describe the pleural intervention. The code is rarely reported in current Medicare practice, so the record should make clear what was done rather than relying only on a diagnosis of pneumothorax.

Report 32960 for the therapeutic induction itself, not for thoracentesis or chest-tube drainage. The minor procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction to the others. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 Galveston, TX compares for 32960

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 32960 runs from $122.05 in Arkansas to $169.23 in San Benito County, CA. Galveston, TX pays $133.40. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

32960 in Galveston, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Galveston, TX · this page$133.40
  2. Austin, TX · Texas$137.85+$4.45
  3. Beaumont, TX · Texas$127.66−$5.74
  4. Brazoria, TX · Texas$133.02−$0.38
  5. Dallas, TX · Texas$133.82+$0.42
  6. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$133.19−$0.21
  7. Houston, TX · Texas$136.15+$2.75

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

Every other payment area

32960 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$130.24$80.79
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$147.75$86.11
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$150.43$89.05
Miami, FLFlorida$144.78$90.54
Chicago, ILIllinois$141.53$89.16
Manhattan, NYNew York$152.29$91.74
AlaskaAlaska$166.43$110.94
AlabamaAlabama$123.41$77.82

32960 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.

$122.05

$166.43

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

View every state and territory as a table
32960 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$166.431
AL$123.411
AR$122.051
AZ$131.401
CA$139.63–$169.2329
CO$138.341
CT$141.871
DC$150.431
DE$133.231
FL$133.73–$144.783
GA$127.73–$136.572
GU$141.681
HI$141.681
IA$125.351
ID$126.071
IL$131.05–$141.534
IN$126.621
KS$125.121
KY$126.131
LA$126.07–$130.852
MA$137.89–$149.652
MD$135.29–$150.433
ME$126.82–$131.802
MI$128.87–$135.282
MN$132.761
MO$124.55–$130.953
MS$123.311
MT$134.261
NC$127.811
ND$131.301
NE$125.811
NH$136.491
NJ$143.54–$149.492
NM$129.511
NV$133.501
NY$129.31–$155.525
OH$128.271
OK$125.721
OR$132.51–$141.662
PA$128.30–$139.162
PR$134.961
RI$137.161
SC$128.241
SD$130.941
TN$125.631
TX$127.66–$137.858
UT$129.591
VA$131.62–$150.432
VI$134.961
VT$131.101
WA$137.53–$152.112
WI$127.891
WV$127.331
WY$132.971

See 32960 in every payment locality

How the 32960 rate is calculated

Each of 32960’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 · 32960

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.79

1.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.08

2.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.15

0.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.0200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$134.27

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

The exact Galveston, TX inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,808

Code
32960
Physician work
1.79
Practice expense
2.08
Malpractice
0.15

GPCI2026.csv

101

Locality
Galveston, TX
Physician work
1.008
Practice expense
0.993
Malpractice
0.828
Office calculation for 32960 in Galveston, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.79× 1.0081.8043
Practice expense2.08× 0.9932.0654
Malpractice0.15× 0.8280.1242
Total RVUs3.9940
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Galveston, TX$133.40

Office: (1.79 × 1.008 + 2.08 × 0.993 + 0.15 × 0.828) × $33.4009 = $133.40

Facility: (1.79 × 1.008 + 0.52 × 0.993 + 0.15 × 0.828) × $33.4009 = $81.66

Open 32960 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 32960

The CMS indicators that decide how 32960 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 32960

Therapeutic pneumothorax, intrapleural air introduction

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)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
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 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

32960 without 51 · national office

$134.27

Therapeutic pneumothorax, intrapleural air introduction

32960-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$67.14

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 32960

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

Codes related to 32960
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Galveston, TX
Used instead
32551Chest tube, open thoracostomyA chest tube procedure addresses pleural drainage, not deliberate therapeutic air introduction.No office rate
32554Thoracentesis, without imaging guidanceThoracentesis removes pleural fluid; it is not induction of a therapeutic pneumothorax.$258.43
32556Pleural catheter, without imaging guidancePercutaneous pleural catheter drainage is a drainage service, not therapeutic air introduction.$834.33

How 32960 has changed in Galveston, TX

32960 · Office / nonfacility

$133.40

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $10.72 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $122.68 to $133.40 (8.7%).

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

    $122.68changed to$133.40

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.84 changed to 1.79
    • Practice expense RVU 1.79 changed to 2.08
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.15
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.000 changed to 0.993
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.855 changed to 0.828

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $126.29changed to$122.68

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.80 changed to 1.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.16

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $124.23changed to$126.29

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $128.25changed to$124.23

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.76 changed to 1.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.15
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.013 changed to 1.000
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.703 changed to 0.855

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $130.84changed to$128.25

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.77 changed to 1.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.17
    • Work GPCI 1.032 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.013
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.550 changed to 0.703

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $131.60changed to$130.84

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.75 changed to 1.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $131.70changed to$131.60

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.64 changed to 1.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.14
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.026
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.550

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $131.26changed to$131.70

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.63 changed to 1.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.13
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.839 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $131.48changed to$131.26

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.64 changed to 1.63

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $132.84changed to$131.48

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.67 changed to 1.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.14
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.011
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.897 changed to 0.839

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $146.58changed to$132.84

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.87 changed to 1.67
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.15
    • Work GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.013 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.955 changed to 0.897

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $131.51changed to$146.58

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.63 changed to 1.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.34

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $130.86changed to$131.51

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $154.18changed to$130.86

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 2.04 changed to 1.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.40 changed to 0.14
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.019
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.013
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.970 changed to 0.955

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $154.84changed to$154.18

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.29 changed to 2.04
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.40
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.996 changed to 1.005
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.985 changed to 0.970

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $154.84

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$133.40$81.66RVU26D
2026-07-01$133.40$81.66RVU26C
2026-04-01$133.40$81.66RVU26B
2026-01-01$133.40$81.66RVU26A
2025-10-01$122.68$87.09RVU25D
2025-07-01$122.68$87.09RVU25C
2025-04-01$122.68$87.09RVU25B
2025-01-01$122.68$87.09RVU25A
2024-10-01$126.29$89.01RVU24D
2024-07-01$126.29$89.01RVU24C
2024-04-01$126.29$89.01RVU24B
2024-03-09$126.29$89.01RVU24AR
2024-01-01$124.23$87.56RVU24A
2023-10-01$128.25$90.84RVU23D
2023-07-01$128.25$90.84RVU23C
2023-04-01$128.25$90.84RVU23B
2023-01-01$128.25$90.84RVU23A
2022-10-01$130.84$92.50RVU22D
2022-07-01$130.84$92.50RVU22C
2022-04-01$130.84$92.50RVU22B
2022-01-01$130.84$92.50RVU22A
2021-10-01$131.60$93.29RVU21D
2021-07-01$131.60$93.29RVU21C
2021-04-01$131.60$93.29RVU21B
2021-01-01$131.60$93.29RVU21A
2020-10-01$131.70$95.30RVU20D
2020-07-01$131.70$95.30RVU20C
2020-04-01$131.70$95.30RVU20B
2020-01-01$131.70$95.30RVU20A
2019-10-01$131.26$95.55RVU19D
2019-07-01$131.26$95.55RVU19C
2019-04-01$131.26$95.55RVU19B
2019-01-01$131.26$95.55RVU19A
2018-10-01$131.48$95.81RVU18D
2018-07-01$131.48$95.81RVU18C
2018-04-01$131.48$95.81RVU18B
2018-01-01$131.48$95.81RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$132.84$97.25RVU17D
2017-07-01$132.84$97.25RVU17C
2017-04-01$132.84$97.25RVU17B
2017-01-01$132.84$97.25RVU17A
2016-10-01$146.58$104.51RVU16D
2016-07-01$146.58$104.51RVU16C
2016-04-01$146.58$104.51RVU16B
2016-01-01$146.58$104.51RVU16A
2015-10-01$131.51$96.20RVU15D
2015-07-01$131.51$96.20RVU15C
2015-04-01$130.86$95.72RVU15B
2015-01-01$130.86$95.72RVU15A
2014-10-01$154.18$107.38RVU14D
2014-07-01$154.18$107.38RVU14C
2014-04-01$154.18$107.38RVU14B
2014-01-01$154.18$107.38RVU14A
2013-10-01$154.84$104.69RVU13D
2013-07-01$154.84$104.69RVU13C
2013-04-01$154.84$104.69RVU13B
2013-01-01$154.84$104.69RVU13AR

Price 32960 for an earlier date of service

Where the Galveston, TX rate applies

Galveston, TX is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 16 cities and communities in Texas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Galveston
  • Bacliff
  • Bayou Vista
  • Bolivar Peninsula
  • Clear Lake Shores
  • Dickinson
  • 32960 in Friendswood · multiple payment areas
  • Hitchcock

Browse all communities in Texas

32960 billing questions

How is 32960 different from a chest tube procedure?

32960 describes deliberate introduction of air to create a therapeutic pneumothorax. A chest tube procedure addresses pleural drainage or evacuation, so select the code that matches the documented service.

Can 32960 be reported with same-day preoperative or postoperative care?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care for the procedure.

Should modifier 50 be added when both sides are treated?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 32960, and co-surgeons are not permitted. Team surgery is also not permitted.

What documentation supports reporting 32960?

Document the therapeutic intent, the deliberate introduction of air into the pleural space, and the procedure performed. A diagnosis of pneumothorax alone does not establish that this service was provided.

How does Medicare handle 32960 when another procedure is performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to the reduction.

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 32960PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,808 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Galveston, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 101 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 32960 pays in Galveston, TX?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 32960 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist