CPT code 43216: Esophageal lesion removal, hot forceps or bipolar cautery2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Queens, NY

Flexible esophagoscopy removes an esophageal tumor, polyp, or other lesion using hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery during the procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality255 Medicare services in 2024

In Queens, NY, Medicare pays $530.58 for 43216 in the office and $134.20 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$530.58Office (non-facility)
$134.20Hospital or facility
+16.7%vs the national office rate ($454.59)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 43216 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 43216 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Queens, NY
  2. What 43216 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 43216 covers

A gastroenterologist or other qualified endoscopist advances a flexible scope through the mouth to inspect the esophagus and remove a lesion with hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery. The service is used for therapeutic removal of an esophageal tumor, polyp, or other lesion, rather than inspection or tissue sampling alone. It is commonly performed in a facility-based endoscopy setting.

Report this code when the documented removal technique is hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery. The procedure note should identify the esophageal lesion and describe its removal and the technique used. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy-family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 Queens, NY compares for 43216

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 43216 runs from $398.28 in Arkansas to $623.41 in San Benito County, CA. Queens, NY pays $530.58. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

43216 in Queens, NY vs other payment areas
  1. Queens, NY · this page$530.58
  2. Manhattan, NY · New York$524.30−$6.28
  3. NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY · New York$536.51+$5.93
  4. Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY · New York$494.95−$35.63
  5. Rest of New York · New York$433.62−$96.96
  6. Los Angeles, CA · California$522.99−$7.59
  7. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$525.70−$4.88

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

Every other payment area

43216 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Miami, FLFlorida$482.08$132.99
Chicago, ILIllinois$467.35$130.33
AlaskaAlaska$512.56$155.42
AlabamaAlabama$404.64$111.21
ArkansasArkansas$398.28$110.22
ArizonaArizona$441.91$116.96
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$488.56$121.02
Chico, CACalifornia$487.83$120.29

43216 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.

$398.28

$555.62

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
43216 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$512.561
AL$404.641
AR$398.281
AZ$441.911
CA$487.83–$623.4129
CO$477.521
CT$486.391
DC$525.701
DE$449.691
FL$442.26–$482.083
GA$415.98–$462.372
GU$502.141
HI$502.141
IA$418.151
ID$420.621
IL$426.76–$471.344
IN$423.331
KS$414.921
KY$412.641
LA$411.50–$433.742
MA$473.86–$528.892
MD$459.14–$525.703
ME$421.82–$448.282
MI$423.28–$447.072
MN$459.721
MO$403.08–$436.763
MS$400.821
MT$454.571
NC$426.791
ND$449.821
NE$420.981
NH$468.831
NJ$492.56–$519.332
NM$425.341
NV$453.621
NY$433.62–$536.515
OH$422.311
OK$413.021
OR$450.72–$495.002
PA$423.66–$472.722
PR$458.561
RI$467.411
SC$425.131
SD$449.261
TN$417.051
TX$420.56–$475.388
UT$431.461
VA$445.91–$525.702
VI$458.561
VT$446.911
WA$473.35–$541.252
WI$433.431
WV$409.341
WY$452.501

See 43216 in every payment locality

How the 43216 rate is calculated

Each of 43216’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 · 43216

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.24

2.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense11.13

11.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.24

0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

13.6100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$454.59

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Queens, NY inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,153

Code
43216
Physician work
2.24
Practice expense
11.13
Malpractice
0.24

GPCI2026.csv

81

Locality
Queens, NY
Physician work
1.064
Practice expense
1.182
Malpractice
1.442
Office calculation for 43216 in Queens, NY
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.24× 1.0642.3834
Practice expense11.13× 1.18213.1557
Malpractice0.24× 1.4420.3461
Total RVUs15.8851
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Queens, NY$530.58

Office: (2.24 × 1.064 + 11.13 × 1.182 + 0.24 × 1.442) × $33.4009 = $530.58

Facility: (2.24 × 1.064 + 1.09 × 1.182 + 0.24 × 1.442) × $33.4009 = $134.20

Open 43216 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 43216

The CMS indicators that decide how 43216 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 43216

Esophageal lesion removal, hot forceps or bipolar cautery

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

43216 without 51 · national office

$454.59

Esophageal lesion removal, hot forceps or bipolar cautery

43216-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$227.30

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

How 43216 has changed in Queens, NY

43216 · Office / nonfacility

$530.58

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $76.30 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $454.28 to $530.58 (16.8%).

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

    $454.28changed to$530.58

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.30 changed to 2.24
    • Practice expense RVU 9.36 changed to 11.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.24
    • Work GPCI 1.065 changed to 1.064
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.195 changed to 1.182
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.462 changed to 1.442

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $478.54changed to$454.28

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 9.65 changed to 9.36
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $470.73changed to$478.54

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $503.23changed to$470.73

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 9.78 changed to 9.65
    • Work GPCI 1.061 changed to 1.065
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.212 changed to 1.195
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.061 changed to 1.462
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $538.41changed to$503.23

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 10.15 changed to 9.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.27
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.061
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.228 changed to 1.212
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.661 changed to 2.061

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $537.81changed to$538.41

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 10.01 changed to 10.15
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $488.45changed to$537.81

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.62 changed to 10.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.26
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.228
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.391 changed to 2.661

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $456.41changed to$488.45

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.06 changed to 8.62
    • Work GPCI 1.052 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.200 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.121 changed to 2.391

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $438.00changed to$456.41

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.61 changed to 8.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.27

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $433.85changed to$438.00

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.52 changed to 7.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.151 changed to 2.121

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $503.12changed to$433.85

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 2.40 changed to 2.30
    • Practice expense RVU 9.05 changed to 7.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.199 changed to 1.200
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.181 changed to 2.151

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $518.41changed to$503.12

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 9.29 changed to 9.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.31

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $515.83changed to$518.41

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $506.22changed to$515.83

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 9.18 changed to 9.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.052
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.197 changed to 1.199
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.836 changed to 2.181

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $269.54changed to$506.22

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.06 changed to 9.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.33
    • Work GPCI 1.062 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.195 changed to 1.197
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.491 changed to 1.836

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $269.54

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$530.58$134.20RVU26D
2026-07-01$530.58$134.20RVU26C
2026-04-01$530.58$134.20RVU26B
2026-01-01$530.58$134.20RVU26A
2025-10-01$454.28$146.59RVU25D
2025-07-01$454.28$146.59RVU25C
2025-04-01$454.28$146.59RVU25B
2025-01-01$454.28$146.59RVU25A
2024-10-01$478.54$149.57RVU24D
2024-07-01$478.54$149.57RVU24C
2024-04-01$478.54$149.57RVU24B
2024-03-09$478.54$149.57RVU24AR
2024-01-01$470.73$147.13RVU24A
2023-10-01$503.23$156.59RVU23D
2023-07-01$503.23$156.59RVU23C
2023-04-01$503.23$156.59RVU23B
2023-01-01$503.23$156.59RVU23A
2022-10-01$538.41$164.44RVU22D
2022-07-01$538.41$164.44RVU22C
2022-04-01$538.41$164.44RVU22B
2022-01-01$538.41$164.44RVU22A
2021-10-01$537.81$165.88RVU21D
2021-07-01$537.81$165.88RVU21C
2021-04-01$537.81$165.88RVU21B
2021-01-01$537.81$165.88RVU21A
2020-10-01$488.45$167.31RVU20D
2020-07-01$488.45$167.31RVU20C
2020-04-01$488.45$167.31RVU20B
2020-01-01$488.45$167.31RVU20A
2019-10-01$456.41$163.63RVU19D
2019-07-01$456.41$163.63RVU19C
2019-04-01$456.41$163.63RVU19B
2019-01-01$456.41$163.63RVU19A
2018-10-01$438.00$166.27RVU18D
2018-07-01$438.00$166.27RVU18C
2018-04-01$438.00$166.27RVU18B
2018-01-01$438.00$166.27RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$433.85$168.13RVU17D
2017-07-01$433.85$168.13RVU17C
2017-04-01$433.85$168.13RVU17B
2017-01-01$433.85$168.13RVU17A
2016-10-01$503.12$173.42RVU16D
2016-07-01$503.12$173.42RVU16C
2016-04-01$503.12$173.42RVU16B
2016-01-01$503.12$173.42RVU16A
2015-10-01$518.41$179.77RVU15D
2015-07-01$518.41$179.77RVU15C
2015-04-01$515.83$178.87RVU15B
2015-01-01$515.83$178.87RVU15A
2014-10-01$506.22$174.33RVU14D
2014-07-01$506.22$174.33RVU14C
2014-04-01$506.22$174.33RVU14B
2014-01-01$506.22$174.33RVU14A
2013-10-01$269.54$173.59RVU13D
2013-07-01$269.54$173.59RVU13C
2013-04-01$269.54$173.59RVU13B
2013-01-01$269.54$173.59RVU13AR

Price 43216 for an earlier date of service

Where the Queens, NY rate applies

Queens, NY is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in New York. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

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43216 billing questions

How does this differ from 43217?

This code is for lesion removal with hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery. Use 43217 when a snare is used to remove the lesion.

When is 43211 a better choice?

43211 describes esophageal mucosal resection. Choose it when the documented therapeutic method is mucosal resection rather than removal with hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery.

Can a diagnostic biopsy be reported instead?

Use 43202 when the service is flexible esophagoscopy with biopsy rather than therapeutic lesion removal. The procedure documentation should support the service actually performed.

How does CMS price related endoscopies performed together?

CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together. Payment is subject to that family pricing rather than treating every related endoscopy as an unrelated standalone service.

Which surgical modifiers or providers are permitted?

Modifier 50 is inappropriate. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and 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 43216PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,153 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Queens, NYGPCI2026.csv, line 81 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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