CPT code 38226: CAR T-cell preparation, for transduction2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

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

What 38226 covers

38226 identifies preparation of T lymphocytes for transduction in the CAR T-cell process. Transduction is the genetic modification step used to produce CAR T cells. This preparation is distinct from collecting blood-derived T lymphocytes, receiving and preparing cells for administration, and administering autologous CAR T cells. The related CAR T codes identify those other stages: 38225 for collection, 38227 for receipt and preparation for administration, and 38228 for autologous administration. The code therefore identifies a processing stage before administration, rather than collection or administration itself.

Medicare assigns this CPT code physician fee schedule status B (bundled). Medicare never pays 38226 separately; payment is included in payment for other services. The code concerns preparation of T lymphocytes for transduction, not the collection or administration stages.

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 38226 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

38226 rates by state

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

How the 38226 rate is calculated

Each of 38226’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 38226

38226 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

38226 compared with similar codes

How to choose

38225CAR-T cell collectionBlood-derived T lymphocytes

Use 38225 for collecting blood-derived T lymphocytes for CAR T-cell therapy; 38226 describes preparing T cells for transduction.

38227CAR-T preparationBefore administration

38227 identifies receipt and preparation of cells for administration. It is not the preparation-for-transduction step identified by 38226.

38228CAR T-cell administrationAutologous cells

38228 identifies administration of autologous CAR T cells; 38226 identifies preparation of T lymphocytes for transduction.

38210T-cell depletionHarvest processing

38210 describes T-cell depletion of a harvested cell product. 38226 concerns T-lymphocyte preparation for transduction in CAR T-cell therapy.

Codes related to 38226

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