CPT code 32994: Lung tumor ablation, percutaneous cryoablation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $4,544.53 for 32994 nationally in the office and $380.77 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $3,933.70–$6,425.36.

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

What 32994 covers

This service uses image-guided probes inserted through the skin to freeze and destroy one or more pulmonary tumors. It may include tumors involving the pleura or chest wall. Interventional radiologists commonly perform it in a hospital or other facility setting, often using CT to guide probe placement and monitor treatment. The code identifies cryoablation, not radiofrequency or microwave ablation.

Report the code when the documented treatment is percutaneous cryoablation; the code includes imaging guidance and covers one or more tumors. The record should support the tumor site, percutaneous approach, cryoablation method, and image-guided treatment. It has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When other procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and other procedures at 50%. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, payment is 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed; 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.

Where 32994 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

32994 rates by state

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

How the 32994 rate is calculated

Each of 32994’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 32994

The CMS indicators that decide how 32994 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

32994 compared with similar codes

How to choose

32998Lung tumor ablationPercutaneous, radiofrequency

Choose 32994 for cryoablation and 32998 for radiofrequency ablation; both describe percutaneous pulmonary tumor treatment with imaging guidance.

32999Unlisted lung procedureLungs and pleura

Use 32999 for an unlisted lung or pleura procedure when a specific code does not describe the service; use 32994 for percutaneous cryoablation.

Codes related to 32994

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

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