CPT code 41008: Tongue drainage, intraoral approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Reports incision and drainage of a collection involving the tongue when the surgeon reaches the site through the mouth.
Medicare pays $414.51 for 41008 nationally in the office and $244.83 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $366.30–$545.52.
Medicare rate · 41008
Tongue drainage, intraoral approach
- Work RVUs
- 3.37
- Total RVUs
- 12.41
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$414.51
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 41008 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
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 10 sections
What 41008 covers
This procedure drains a localized collection, such as an abscess, cyst, or hematoma, involving the tongue through an incision made from inside the mouth. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other qualified surgeons may perform it in an operating room or another setting equipped for the procedure. The operative note should identify the tongue as the treated site and describe the intraoral route and drainage performed.
Choose this code when the collection is in the tongue and is accessed intraorally; a different site or an external approach points to a different code. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care through day 90. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.
Where 41008 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$366.30 to $545.52
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $371.70 | $223.24 |
| Alaska | $482.00 | $301.29 |
| Arizona | $403.30 | $238.88 |
| Arkansas | $366.30 | $220.55 |
| Atlanta, GA | $422.70 | $250.31 |
| Austin, TX | $429.43 | $249.91 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $437.66 | $251.69 |
| Baltimore area, MD | $441.03 | $258.97 |
| Beaumont, TX | $387.64 | $233.24 |
| Brazoria, TX | $409.23 | $241.09 |
| Chicago, IL | $437.92 | $267.39 |
| Chico, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Colorado | $430.55 | $250.01 |
| Connecticut | $442.18 | $259.44 |
| Dallas, TX | $412.05 | $243.05 |
| Delaware | $409.99 | $242.35 |
| Detroit, MI | $415.74 | $252.00 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $408.25 | $252.15 |
| El Centro, CA | $436.32 | $250.36 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $431.44 | $259.56 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $409.41 | $242.11 |
| Fresno, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Galveston, TX | $410.59 | $242.10 |
| Hanford, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $446.74 | $253.82 |
| Houston, TX | $419.56 | $251.07 |
| Idaho | $383.03 | $226.93 |
| Indiana | $385.25 | $227.96 |
| Iowa | $380.36 | $225.11 |
| Kansas | $378.97 | $225.58 |
| Kentucky | $381.41 | $230.57 |
| King County, WA | $481.96 | $273.77 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $465.88 | $265.15 |
| Madera, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Manhattan, NY | $477.56 | $280.40 |
| Marin County, CA | $533.43 | $294.19 |
| Merced, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $472.72 | $270.13 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $396.71 | $237.38 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $431.40 | $254.77 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $400.83 | $239.30 |
| Miami, FL | $451.24 | $274.60 |
| Minnesota | $411.26 | $236.67 |
| Mississippi | $370.54 | $224.45 |
| Modesto, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Montana | $414.47 | $244.80 |
| Napa, CA | $504.36 | $280.72 |
| Nebraska | $382.34 | $225.72 |
| Nevada | $412.06 | $242.21 |
| New Hampshire | $424.17 | $247.53 |
| New Mexico | $394.09 | $238.50 |
| New Orleans, LA | $399.88 | $240.22 |
| North Carolina | $389.46 | $231.15 |
| North Dakota | $404.78 | $235.11 |
| Northern New Jersey | $468.40 | $271.58 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $489.71 | $287.96 |
| Ohio | $389.79 | $234.88 |
| Oklahoma | $380.30 | $228.78 |
| Oxnard, CA | $463.46 | $262.90 |
| Portland, OR | $443.82 | $255.30 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $450.14 | $264.34 |
| Puerto Rico | $417.40 | $245.86 |
| Queens, NY | $480.92 | $280.36 |
| Redding, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Rest of California | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Rest of Florida | $410.17 | $247.96 |
| Rest of Georgia | $386.81 | $235.45 |
| Rest of Illinois | $398.87 | $243.96 |
| Rest of Louisiana | $380.98 | $230.81 |
| Rest of Maine | $385.47 | $229.37 |
| Rest of Maryland | $417.72 | $246.00 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $428.12 | $249.45 |
| Rest of Michigan | $391.77 | $236.86 |
| Rest of Missouri | $374.67 | $228.41 |
| Rest of New Jersey | $446.87 | $261.58 |
| Rest of New York | $395.37 | $234.17 |
| Rest of Oregon | $408.50 | $239.50 |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $390.19 | $234.42 |
| Rest of Texas | $398.35 | $237.33 |
| Rest of Washington | $427.19 | $248.52 |
| Rhode Island | $424.30 | $249.02 |
| Riverside, CA | $441.54 | $255.58 |
| Sacramento, CA | $457.51 | $260.18 |
| Salinas, CA | $455.81 | $259.15 |
| San Benito County, CA | $545.52 | $300.84 |
| San Diego, CA | $466.36 | $263.43 |
| San Francisco, CA | $532.87 | $293.63 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $448.52 | $255.26 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $543.24 | $298.57 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $470.67 | $264.52 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $457.47 | $259.63 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $475.40 | $267.04 |
| South Carolina | $390.35 | $233.57 |
| South Dakota | $403.64 | $233.96 |
| Southern Maine, ME | $405.90 | $237.75 |
| Stockton, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $435.64 | $261.38 |
| Tennessee | $380.94 | $226.70 |
| Utah | $395.70 | $236.21 |
| Vallejo, CA | $503.56 | $279.92 |
| Vermont | $403.56 | $235.58 |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $417.40 | $245.86 |
| Virginia | $404.84 | $238.05 |
| Visalia, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
| Washington, DC area | $473.27 | $273.39 |
| West Virginia | $384.15 | $236.70 |
| Wisconsin | $391.19 | $228.64 |
| Wyoming | $410.25 | $240.57 |
| Yuba City, CA | $436.24 | $250.27 |
41008 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.
$366.30
$490.88
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $482.00 | 1 |
| AL | $371.70 | 1 |
| AR | $366.30 | 1 |
| AZ | $403.30 | 1 |
| CA | $436.24–$545.52 | 29 |
| CO | $430.55 | 1 |
| CT | $442.18 | 1 |
| DC | $473.27 | 1 |
| DE | $409.99 | 1 |
| FL | $410.17–$451.24 | 3 |
| GA | $386.81–$422.70 | 2 |
| GU | $446.74 | 1 |
| HI | $446.74 | 1 |
| IA | $380.36 | 1 |
| ID | $383.03 | 1 |
| IL | $398.87–$437.92 | 4 |
| IN | $385.25 | 1 |
| KS | $378.97 | 1 |
| KY | $381.41 | 1 |
| LA | $380.98–$399.88 | 2 |
| MA | $428.12–$472.72 | 2 |
| MD | $417.72–$473.27 | 3 |
| ME | $385.47–$405.90 | 2 |
| MI | $391.77–$415.74 | 2 |
| MN | $411.26 | 1 |
| MO | $374.67–$400.83 | 3 |
| MS | $370.54 | 1 |
| MT | $414.47 | 1 |
| NC | $389.46 | 1 |
| ND | $404.78 | 1 |
| NE | $382.34 | 1 |
| NH | $424.17 | 1 |
| NJ | $446.87–$468.40 | 2 |
| NM | $394.09 | 1 |
| NV | $412.06 | 1 |
| NY | $395.37–$489.71 | 5 |
| OH | $389.79 | 1 |
| OK | $380.30 | 1 |
| OR | $408.50–$443.82 | 2 |
| PA | $390.19–$431.40 | 2 |
| PR | $417.40 | 1 |
| RI | $424.30 | 1 |
| SC | $390.35 | 1 |
| SD | $403.64 | 1 |
| TN | $380.94 | 1 |
| TX | $387.64–$429.43 | 8 |
| UT | $395.70 | 1 |
| VA | $404.84–$473.27 | 2 |
| VI | $417.40 | 1 |
| VT | $403.56 | 1 |
| WA | $427.19–$481.96 | 2 |
| WI | $391.19 | 1 |
| WV | $384.15 | 1 |
| WY | $410.25 | 1 |
How the 41008 rate is calculated
Each of 41008’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 · 41008
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.37
3.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.55
8.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.49
0.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
12.4100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$414.51
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 41008
41008 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 41008
Tongue drainage, intraoral approach
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 41008
Tongue drainage, intraoral approach
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
41008 without 51 · national office
$414.51
Tongue drainage, intraoral approach
41008-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$207.26
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%).
41008 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 41009Abscess drainageIntraoral pharyngeal space
- Both concern drainage of a tongue collection, but 41008 is for access through the mouth and 41009 for an external approach.
- 41000Oral abscess drainageFloor of mouth
- 41008 identifies a tongue collection. Use 41000 when the collection involves dentoalveolar structures instead.
- 41005Oral drainageMouth vestibule
- 41005 concerns drainage at the floor of the mouth through a sublingual approach; 41008 concerns a tongue collection reached intraorally.
41008 billing questions
When should this code be chosen over 41009?
Use 41008 for drainage of a tongue collection reached through the mouth. Code 41009 is the related alternative for an external approach.
Does this code cover drainage of a tooth-related abscess?
No. When the treated collection is in dentoalveolar structures rather than the tongue, consider 41000.
What should the operative note identify?
Document the tongue as the site, the intraoral route, and the incision and drainage performed. This supports distinguishing the service from drainage at another oral site or by an external approach.
Can modifier 50 be used?
No. The code's descriptor and anatomy make bilateral reporting with modifier 50 inappropriate.
How does the global period affect postoperative billing?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care through day 90.
When is assistant-at-surgery payment allowed?
Payment for an assistant at surgery requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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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