CPT code 32994: Lung tumor ablation, percutaneous cryoablation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Report percutaneous cryoablation to reduce or eradicate one or more pulmonary tumors, including involved pleura or chest wall, with imaging guidance.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality352 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $5,314.83 for 32994 in the office and $409.93 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$5,314.83Office (non-facility)
$409.93Hospital or facility
+17.0%vs the national office rate ($4,544.53)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 32994 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 32994 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 32994 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 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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 32994

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 32994 runs from $3,933.70 in Arkansas to $6,425.36 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $5,314.83. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

32994 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$5,314.83
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$5,317.10+$2.27
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$4,768.50−$546.33
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$4,610.92−$703.91
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$5,266.10−$48.73
  6. Alaska · Alaska$4,950.61−$364.22
  7. Alabama · Alabama$4,002.88−$1,311.95

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

32994 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$3,933.70$357.04
ArizonaArizona$4,408.98$374.30
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$4,941.90$378.43
Chico, CACalifornia$4,938.88$375.40
El Centro, CACalifornia$4,939.04$375.57
Fresno, CACalifornia$4,938.88$375.40
Hanford, CACalifornia$4,938.88$375.40
Madera, CACalifornia$4,938.88$375.40

32994 rates by state

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

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.

$3,933.70

$5,682.12

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

View every state and territory as a table
32994 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$4,950.611
AL$4,002.881
AR$3,933.701
AZ$4,408.981
CA$4,938.88–$6,425.3629
CO$4,810.641
CT$4,882.141
DC$5,314.831
DE$4,492.021
FL$4,375.77–$4,768.503
GA$4,095.48–$4,619.602
GU$5,108.221
HI$5,108.221
IA$4,165.921
ID$4,189.551
IL$4,196.43–$4,686.234
IN$4,219.501
KS$4,123.111
KY$4,073.581
LA$4,058.15–$4,300.252
MA$4,765.96–$5,371.042
MD$4,595.33–$5,314.833
ME$4,194.53–$4,494.252
MI$4,181.94–$4,419.842
MN$4,643.311
MO$3,961.68–$4,342.173
MS$3,949.621
MT$4,544.461
NC$4,249.921
ND$4,524.691
NE$4,199.031
NH$4,713.261
NJ$4,947.51–$5,240.072
NM$4,201.211
NV$4,543.171
NY$4,323.75–$5,389.015
OH$4,177.901
OK$4,085.841
OR$4,517.74–$5,008.792
PA$4,196.88–$4,729.172
PR$4,590.411
RI$4,685.671
SC$4,219.011
SD$4,522.351
TN$4,145.301
TX$4,162.61–$4,785.908
UT$4,288.091
VA$4,463.01–$5,314.832
VI$4,590.411
VT$4,485.851
WA$4,763.88–$5,510.412
WI$4,344.291
WV$4,006.471
WY$4,535.841

See 32994 in every payment locality

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.

How the rate is built · 32994

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work8.80

8.80 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense126.26

126.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.00

1.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

136.0600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$4,544.53

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,809

Code
32994
Physician work
8.80
Practice expense
126.26
Malpractice
1.00

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 32994 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work8.80× 1.0549.2752
Practice expense126.26× 1.178148.7343
Malpractice1.00× 1.1131.1130
Total RVUs159.1225
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$5314.83

Office: (8.8 × 1.054 + 126.26 × 1.178 + 1 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $5314.83

Facility: (8.8 × 1.054 + 1.6 × 1.178 + 1 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $409.93

Open 32994 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 32994

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

CMS payment indicators · 32994

Lung tumor ablation, percutaneous cryoablation

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

32994 without 50 · national office

$4,544.53

Lung tumor ablation, percutaneous cryoablation

32994-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$6,816.80

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).

When to use modifier 50

How 32994 has changed in Washington, DC area

32994 · Office / nonfacility

$5314.83

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $43.38 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $5271.45 to $5314.83 (0.8%).

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

    $5271.45changed to$5314.83

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 9.03 changed to 8.80
    • Practice expense RVU 127.79 changed to 126.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.94 changed to 1.00
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $5607.31changed to$5271.45

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 132.36 changed to 127.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.97 changed to 0.94

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $5515.79changed to$5607.31

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $6055.98changed to$5515.79

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 138.43 changed to 132.36
    • Malpractice RVU 0.91 changed to 0.97
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $6512.24changed to$6055.98

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 143.66 changed to 138.43
    • Malpractice RVU 0.85 changed to 0.91
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $6936.64changed to$6512.24

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 152.28 changed to 143.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.82 changed to 0.85

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $6809.61changed to$6936.64

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 145.95 changed to 152.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.79 changed to 0.82
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $6876.66changed to$6809.61

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 149.65 changed to 145.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.83 changed to 0.79
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $7549.24changed to$6876.66

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 164.92 changed to 149.65
    • Malpractice RVU 1.22 changed to 0.83

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    No ratechanged to$7549.24

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$5,314.83$409.93RVU26D
2026-07-01$5,314.83$409.93RVU26C
2026-04-01$5,314.83$409.93RVU26B
2026-01-01$5,314.83$409.93RVU26A
2025-10-01$5,271.45$456.84RVU25D
2025-07-01$5,271.45$456.84RVU25C
2025-04-01$5,271.45$456.84RVU25B
2025-01-01$5,271.45$456.84RVU25A
2024-10-01$5,607.31$465.34RVU24D
2024-07-01$5,607.31$465.34RVU24C
2024-04-01$5,607.31$465.34RVU24B
2024-03-09$5,607.31$465.34RVU24AR
2024-01-01$5,515.79$457.75RVU24A
2023-10-01$6,055.98$478.76RVU23D
2023-07-01$6,055.98$478.76RVU23C
2023-04-01$6,055.98$478.76RVU23B
2023-01-01$6,055.98$478.76RVU23A
2022-10-01$6,512.24$488.91RVU22D
2022-07-01$6,512.24$488.91RVU22C
2022-04-01$6,512.24$488.91RVU22B
2022-01-01$6,512.24$488.91RVU22A
2021-10-01$6,936.64$491.61RVU21D
2021-07-01$6,936.64$491.61RVU21C
2021-04-01$6,936.64$491.61RVU21B
2021-01-01$6,936.64$491.61RVU21A
2020-10-01$6,809.61$509.58RVU20D
2020-07-01$6,809.61$509.58RVU20C
2020-04-01$6,809.61$509.58RVU20B
2020-01-01$6,809.61$509.58RVU20A
2019-10-01$6,876.66$523.28RVU19D
2019-07-01$6,876.66$523.28RVU19C
2019-04-01$6,876.66$523.28RVU19B
2019-01-01$6,876.66$523.28RVU19A
2018-10-01$7,549.24$558.63RVU18D
2018-07-01$7,549.24$558.63RVU18C
2018-04-01$7,549.24$558.63RVU18B
2018-01-01$7,549.24$558.63RVU18AR1
2017-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17D
2017-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17C
2017-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17B
2017-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17A
2016-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16D
2016-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16C
2016-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16B
2016-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16A
2015-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15D
2015-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15C
2015-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15B
2015-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15A
2014-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14D
2014-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14C
2014-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14B
2014-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14A
2013-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13D
2013-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13C
2013-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13B
2013-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13AR

Price 32994 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

32994 billing questions

How does this differ from 32998?

32994 is for percutaneous cryoablation. Use 32998 when the pulmonary tumor is treated with radiofrequency ablation.

Is imaging guidance separately reportable?

No. Imaging guidance is included in 32994.

Does the code cover treatment of multiple tumors?

Yes. The code covers treatment of one or more pulmonary tumors in the described percutaneous cryoablation service.

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

Medicare applies the standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are paid at 50%.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral treatment?

CMS identifies 32994 as bilateral; modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Document the bilateral service.

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 32994PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,809 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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