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CPT code 41008: Tongue drainage, intraoral approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Santa Clara County, CA

Reports incision and drainage of a collection involving the tongue when the surgeon reaches the site through the mouth.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality220 Medicare services in 2024

In Santa Clara County, CA, Medicare pays $543.24 for 41008 in the office and $298.57 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$543.24Office (non-facility)
$298.57Hospital or facility
+31.1%vs the national office rate ($414.51)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 41008 nationwide

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

We’ll open 41008 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Santa Clara County, CA
  2. What 41008 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

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.

How Santa Clara County, CA compares for 41008

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 41008 runs from $366.30 in Arkansas to $545.52 in San Benito County, CA. Santa Clara County, CA pays $543.24. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

41008 in Santa Clara County, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Santa Clara County, CA · this page$543.24
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$437.66−$105.58
  3. Chico, CA · California$436.24−$107.00
  4. El Centro, CA · California$436.32−$106.92
  5. Fresno, CA · California$436.24−$107.00
  6. Hanford, CA · California$436.24−$107.00
  7. Los Angeles, CA · California$465.88−$77.36

Other areas in California first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

41008 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Madera, CACalifornia$436.24$250.27
Merced, CACalifornia$436.24$250.27
Modesto, CACalifornia$436.24$250.27
Napa, CACalifornia$504.36$280.72
Oxnard, CACalifornia$463.46$262.90
Redding, CACalifornia$436.24$250.27
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$436.24$250.27
Riverside, CACalifornia$441.54$255.58

41008 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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
41008 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$482.001
AL$371.701
AR$366.301
AZ$403.301
CA$436.24–$545.5229
CO$430.551
CT$442.181
DC$473.271
DE$409.991
FL$410.17–$451.243
GA$386.81–$422.702
GU$446.741
HI$446.741
IA$380.361
ID$383.031
IL$398.87–$437.924
IN$385.251
KS$378.971
KY$381.411
LA$380.98–$399.882
MA$428.12–$472.722
MD$417.72–$473.273
ME$385.47–$405.902
MI$391.77–$415.742
MN$411.261
MO$374.67–$400.833
MS$370.541
MT$414.471
NC$389.461
ND$404.781
NE$382.341
NH$424.171
NJ$446.87–$468.402
NM$394.091
NV$412.061
NY$395.37–$489.715
OH$389.791
OK$380.301
OR$408.50–$443.822
PA$390.19–$431.402
PR$417.401
RI$424.301
SC$390.351
SD$403.641
TN$380.941
TX$387.64–$429.438
UT$395.701
VA$404.84–$473.272
VI$417.401
VT$403.561
WA$427.19–$481.962
WI$391.191
WV$384.151
WY$410.251

See 41008 in every payment locality

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

Office or facility?

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.

The exact Santa Clara County, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,886

Code
41008
Physician work
3.37
Practice expense
8.55
Malpractice
0.49

GPCI2026.csv

28

Locality
Santa Clara County, CA
Physician work
1.110
Practice expense
1.442
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 41008 in Santa Clara County, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.37× 1.1103.7407
Practice expense8.55× 1.44212.3291
Malpractice0.49× 0.3970.1945
Total RVUs16.2643
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Santa Clara County, CA$543.24

Office: (3.37 × 1.11 + 8.55 × 1.442 + 0.49 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $543.24

Facility: (3.37 × 1.11 + 3.47 × 1.442 + 0.49 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $298.57

Open 41008 in the RVU calculator

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

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.09/0.81/0.10Share 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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 41008

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

Codes related to 41008
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Santa Clara County, CA
Same family
41009Abscess drainage, intraoral pharyngeal spaceRelated tongue-drainage code for an external approach.$567.31
Used instead
41000Oral abscess drainage, floor of mouthUsed for drainage involving dentoalveolar structures rather than the tongue.$208.82
41005Oral drainage, mouth vestibuleAddresses drainage at the floor of the mouth by a sublingual approach.$313.52
41006Mouth lesion drainage, floor of mouth, extraoralAddresses drainage at the floor of the mouth by a submental approach.$453.90
41007Mouth lesion drainage, floor of mouth, intraoralAddresses drainage at the floor of the mouth by a submandibular approach.$438.33

How 41008 has changed in Santa Clara County, CA

41008 · Office / nonfacility

$543.24

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $37.63 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $505.61 to $543.24 (7.4%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $505.61changed to$543.24

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.46 changed to 3.37
    • Practice expense RVU 8.10 changed to 8.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.49
    • Work GPCI 1.100 changed to 1.110
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.435 changed to 1.442
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.420 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $511.84changed to$505.61

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.94 changed to 8.10
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.48

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $503.48changed to$511.84

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $512.07changed to$503.48

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.91 changed to 7.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.40 changed to 0.42
    • Work GPCI 1.098 changed to 1.100
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.435
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.417 changed to 0.420

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $508.84changed to$512.07

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.77 changed to 7.91
    • Work GPCI 1.096 changed to 1.098
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.383 changed to 1.409
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.414 changed to 0.417

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $515.66changed to$508.84

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.83 changed to 7.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.38 changed to 0.40

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $495.79changed to$515.66

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.18 changed to 7.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.38
    • Work GPCI 1.089 changed to 1.096
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.369 changed to 1.383
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.401 changed to 0.414

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $487.38changed to$495.79

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.06 changed to 7.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.089
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.354 changed to 1.369
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.388 changed to 0.401

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $481.00changed to$487.38

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.94 changed to 7.06

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $483.45changed to$481.00

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.02 changed to 6.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.57 changed to 0.56
    • Work GPCI 1.086 changed to 1.083
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.351 changed to 1.354
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.402 changed to 0.388

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $483.28changed to$483.45

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 7.05 changed to 7.02
    • Work GPCI 1.088 changed to 1.086
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.347 changed to 1.351
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.416 changed to 0.402

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $485.70changed to$483.28

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 7.07 changed to 7.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.55 changed to 0.57

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $483.28changed to$485.70

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $479.21changed to$483.28

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.03 changed to 7.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.55
    • Work GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.088
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.342 changed to 1.347
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.466 changed to 0.416

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $482.95changed to$479.21

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.66 changed to 7.03
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.42
    • Work GPCI 1.077 changed to 1.083
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.337 changed to 1.342
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.516 changed to 0.466

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$482.95

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$543.24$298.57RVU26D
2026-07-01$543.24$298.57RVU26C
2026-04-01$543.24$298.57RVU26B
2026-01-01$543.24$298.57RVU26A
2025-10-01$505.61$317.62RVU25D
2025-07-01$505.61$317.62RVU25C
2025-04-01$505.61$317.62RVU25B
2025-01-01$505.61$317.62RVU25A
2024-10-01$511.84$318.38RVU24D
2024-07-01$511.84$318.38RVU24C
2024-04-01$511.84$318.38RVU24B
2024-03-09$511.84$318.38RVU24AR
2024-01-01$503.48$313.18RVU24A
2023-10-01$512.07$316.31RVU23D
2023-07-01$512.07$316.31RVU23C
2023-04-01$512.07$316.31RVU23B
2023-01-01$512.07$316.31RVU23A
2022-10-01$508.84$311.65RVU22D
2022-07-01$508.84$311.65RVU22C
2022-04-01$508.84$311.65RVU22B
2022-01-01$508.84$311.65RVU22A
2021-10-01$515.66$315.88RVU21D
2021-07-01$515.66$315.88RVU21C
2021-04-01$515.66$315.88RVU21B
2021-01-01$515.66$315.88RVU21A
2020-10-01$495.79$320.89RVU20D
2020-07-01$495.79$320.89RVU20C
2020-04-01$495.79$320.89RVU20B
2020-01-01$495.79$320.89RVU20A
2019-10-01$487.38$324.40RVU19D
2019-07-01$487.38$324.40RVU19C
2019-04-01$487.38$324.40RVU19B
2019-01-01$487.38$324.40RVU19A
2018-10-01$481.00$327.94RVU18D
2018-07-01$481.00$327.94RVU18C
2018-04-01$481.00$327.94RVU18B
2018-01-01$481.00$327.94RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$483.45$331.69RVU17D
2017-07-01$483.45$331.69RVU17C
2017-04-01$483.45$331.69RVU17B
2017-01-01$483.45$331.69RVU17A
2016-10-01$483.28$331.85RVU16D
2016-07-01$483.28$331.85RVU16C
2016-04-01$483.28$331.85RVU16B
2016-01-01$483.28$331.85RVU16A
2015-10-01$485.70$332.26RVU15D
2015-07-01$485.70$332.26RVU15C
2015-04-01$483.28$330.61RVU15B
2015-01-01$483.28$330.61RVU15A
2014-10-01$479.21$331.62RVU14D
2014-07-01$479.21$331.62RVU14C
2014-04-01$479.21$331.62RVU14B
2014-01-01$479.21$331.62RVU14A
2013-10-01$482.95$326.47RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 41008 for an earlier date of service

Where the Santa Clara County, CA rate applies

Santa Clara County, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • San Jose
  • Santa Clara
  • Sunnyvale
  • Alum Rock
  • Burbank
  • Cambrian Park
  • Campbell
  • Cupertino

Browse all communities in California

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
RVUs for 41008PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,886 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Santa Clara County, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 28 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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