CPT code 41018: Abscess drainage, parapharyngeal space, external approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Dakota

In North Dakota, Medicare pays $534.36 for 41018 in the office and $360.67 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 41018 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 41018 covers

This service involves surgically opening and draining an infected collection in the parapharyngeal space through an external, typically transcervical, approach. It is generally performed by an otolaryngologist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon in an operating room when the infection’s location or extent calls for operative access to this deep space. The operative work addresses the parapharyngeal collection, rather than a more superficial mouth or neck abscess.

Report the code when the documented site is the parapharyngeal space and the surgeon performs external drainage. The operative note should identify the involved space, approach, and drainage performed; a general diagnosis of a neck abscess alone does not establish the specific service. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. 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 North Dakota compares for 41018

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 41018 runs from $486.93 in Arkansas to $712.93 in San Benito County, CA. North Dakota pays $534.36. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

41018 rates by state

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

See 41018 in every payment locality

How the 41018 rate is calculated

Each of 41018’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 41018

41018 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 51

Codes related to 41018

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

How 41018 has changed in North Dakota

Price 41018 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Dakota rate applies

North Dakota is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 406 cities and communities in North Dakota. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Abercrombie
• Adams
• Alamo
• Alexander
• Alice
• Almont
• Alsen
• Ambrose

Browse all communities in North Dakota

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