CPT code 38570: Laparoscopic node biopsy, retroperitoneal sampling2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Report this service for laparoscopic biopsy sampling of one or more retroperitoneal lymph nodes, rather than a formal lymphadenectomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 38570 in Florida.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 38570 covers
A surgeon uses a laparoscope to locate and sample retroperitoneal lymph nodes for tissue examination. The code covers sampling of a single node or multiple nodes; it is commonly encountered in operative staging when nodal tissue is needed without a more extensive lymph-node dissection. Gynecologic, urologic, and general surgeons may perform the procedure in an operating room, usually in a facility setting.
Report the code when the operative note documents the laparoscopic approach and retroperitoneal node sampling, including the sampled sites and specimens. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for bilateral sampling under this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment and co-surgeon billing are permitted; team-surgery billing is 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 38570 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $529.23 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $574.99 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $503.27 |
How the 38570 rate is calculated
Each of 38570’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 · 38570
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.28
8.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.38
4.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.73
1.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
14.3900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$480.64
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 38570
38570 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 38570
Laparoscopic node biopsy, retroperitoneal sampling
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 2 | Permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 38570
Laparoscopic node biopsy, retroperitoneal sampling
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
38570 without 51 · national facility
$480.64
Laparoscopic node biopsy, retroperitoneal sampling
38570-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$240.32
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
38570 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 38571Pelvic lymphadenectomyLaparoscopic, bilateral
- 38570 describes retroperitoneal node sampling. Use 38571 when the operation is a bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy.
- 38572Laparoscopic lymphadenectomyPelvic dissection plus para-aortic sampling
- 38572 describes bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy with peri-aortic node sampling; 38570 is for retroperitoneal sampling without that broader pelvic dissection.
- 38573Laparoscopic lymphadenectomyBilateral pelvic with para-aortic sampling
- 38573 is for bilateral total pelvic and peri-aortic lymphadenectomy. 38570 describes sampling rather than that extent of nodal dissection.
- 38505Lymph node biopsyNeedle, superficial node
- 38505 is for needle biopsy of a lymph node. Use 38570 when the surgeon samples retroperitoneal nodes laparoscopically.
38570 billing questions
When should 38570 be chosen instead of a laparoscopic lymphadenectomy code?
Use 38570 for retroperitoneal node sampling, whether one or multiple nodes are sampled. Choose a lymphadenectomy code when the documented procedure is the more extensive nodal dissection described by that code.
Can multiple sampled nodes be reported as multiple units?
No. The code covers sampling of a single node or multiple nodes; the number of specimens does not create additional units of 38570.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral sampling?
No. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this code, so do not use modifier 50 for bilateral sampling.
How are related endoscopic procedures priced when performed together?
Endoscopy-family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. The operative documentation should identify the procedures performed during the session.
What postoperative care is included?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure's global 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
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