CPT code 38520: Lymph node biopsy, deep cervical with scalene fat pad2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Mexico

In New Mexico, Medicare pays $437.42 for 38520 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 38520 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 38520 covers

This open operation removes deep cervical lymph nodes along with the scalene fat pad, which contains lymphatic tissue. Thoracic or head and neck surgeons may perform it when tissue is needed to evaluate suspected malignancy, including for cancer staging. The work involves surgical exposure and removal of the specified tissue for pathologic examination, rather than needle sampling or removal of a superficial node alone.

Report the code when the operative record supports both open work on deep cervical nodes and excision of the scalene fat pad. Documentation should identify the anatomic site, approach, and tissue removed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 New Mexico compares for 38520

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 38520 runs from $393.87 in Arkansas to $543.50 in Alaska. New Mexico pays $437.42. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

38520 rates by state

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

See 38520 in every payment locality

How the 38520 rate is calculated

Each of 38520’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 38520

38520 has a 90-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 38520

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

How 38520 has changed in New Mexico

Price 38520 for an earlier date of service

Where the New Mexico rate applies

New Mexico is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 528 cities and communities in New Mexico. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Abeytas
• Abiquiu
• Acomita Lake
• Adelino
• Agua Fria
• Alamillo
• Alamo
• Alamogordo

Browse all communities in New Mexico

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