CPT code 38510: Lymph node biopsy, open, deep cervical2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama

In Alabama, Medicare pays $496.55 for 38510 in the office and $345.16 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 38510 nationwide

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

What 38510 covers

This code covers an open surgical biopsy or removal of one or more deep cervical lymph nodes, commonly from the deep neck chain. An otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeon, or general surgeon may perform it when imaging or examination identifies a node requiring tissue diagnosis, including workup for suspected lymphoma or metastatic cancer. The node is submitted for pathologic examination; this is different from sampling a superficial neck node or using a needle approach.

Report the code for the open deep cervical procedure, documenting the node’s location, the operative approach, and whether biopsy or excision was performed. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. If other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. For bilateral work, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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 Alabama compares for 38510

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 38510 runs from $489.76 in Arkansas to $683.42 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $496.55. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

38510 rates by state

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

See 38510 in every payment locality

How the 38510 rate is calculated

Each of 38510’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 38510

38510 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 38510

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

How 38510 has changed in Alabama

Price 38510 for an earlier date of service

Where the Alabama rate applies

Alabama is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 595 cities and communities in Alabama. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Abanda
• Abbeville
• Adamsville
• Addison
• Akron
• Alabaster
• Albertville
• Alexander City

Browse all communities in Alabama

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