CPT code 43235: Upper GI endoscopy, diagnostic, brushings or washings2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Montana

Reports a flexible upper endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, including brush or wash cytology when performed without biopsy or therapy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality262.6K Medicare services in 2024

In Montana, Medicare pays $322.64 for 43235 in the office and $110.54 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$322.64Office (non-facility)
$110.54Hospital or facility
−0.0%vs the national office rate ($322.65)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 43235 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 43235 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Montana
  2. What 43235 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 43235 covers

A flexible scope is passed through the mouth to examine the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. When performed, brushings or washings collect cells or material for laboratory analysis; they are part of this service. Gastroenterologists and other physicians trained in upper endoscopy perform it in office, ambulatory, and hospital settings to evaluate upper gastrointestinal symptoms or findings when the examination is diagnostic.

Report this code when inspection, with or without brushings or washings, is performed without a biopsy or therapeutic intervention. The record should support the examined anatomy, findings, and any sampled site and method. A biopsy or endoscopic treatment calls for the corresponding procedure code rather than separate reporting of this diagnostic examination. Medicare assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery services are not paid, and 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 Montana compares for 43235

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 43235 runs from $284.01 in Arkansas to $435.38 in San Benito County, CA. Montana pays $322.64. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

43235 in Montana vs other payment areas
  1. Montana · this page$322.64
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$367.86+$45.22
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$371.11+$48.47
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$345.02+$22.38
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$334.74+$12.10
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$371.64+$49.00
  7. Alaska · Alaska$369.14+$46.50

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

Every other payment area

43235 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$288.36$102.78
ArkansasArkansas$284.01$101.82
ArizonaArizona$313.86$108.34
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$344.48$112.02
Chico, CACalifornia$343.76$111.30
El Centro, CACalifornia$343.80$111.34
Fresno, CACalifornia$343.76$111.30
Hanford, CACalifornia$343.76$111.30

43235 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.

$284.01

$389.57

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

View every state and territory as a table
43235 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$369.141
AL$288.361
AR$284.011
AZ$313.861
CA$343.76–$435.3829
CO$337.491
CT$344.681
DC$371.111
DE$319.231
FL$315.84–$345.023
GA$297.57–$328.412
GU$353.051
HI$353.051
IA$296.871
ID$298.711
IL$305.72–$335.974
IN$300.541
KS$295.011
KY$294.611
LA$293.97–$309.202
MA$335.18–$372.392
MD$325.63–$371.113
ME$299.90–$317.482
MI$302.24–$319.522
MN$324.161
MO$288.43–$310.843
MS$286.301
MT$322.641
NC$303.241
ND$317.891
NE$298.691
NH$331.761
NJ$348.83–$366.932
NM$303.801
NV$321.561
NY$307.95–$380.475
OH$301.271
OK$294.491
OR$319.29–$349.052
PA$302.00–$335.532
PR$325.241
RI$331.221
SC$302.721
SD$317.331
TN$296.511
TX$299.90–$336.178
UT$307.051
VA$316.11–$371.112
VI$325.241
VT$316.231
WA$334.69–$380.552
WI$306.751
WV$293.821
WY$320.571

See 43235 in every payment locality

How the 43235 rate is calculated

Each of 43235’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 · 43235

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.04

2.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.38

7.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.24

0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

9.6600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$322.65

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

The exact Montana inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,163

Code
43235
Physician work
2.04
Practice expense
7.38
Malpractice
0.24

GPCI2026.csv

71

Locality
Montana
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
1.000
Malpractice
0.998
Office calculation for 43235 in Montana
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.04× 1.0002.0400
Practice expense7.38× 1.0007.3800
Malpractice0.24× 0.9980.2395
Total RVUs9.6595
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Montana$322.64

Office: (2.04 × 1 + 7.38 × 1 + 0.24 × 0.998) × $33.4009 = $322.64

Facility: (2.04 × 1 + 1.03 × 1 + 0.24 × 0.998) × $33.4009 = $110.54

Open 43235 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 43235

The CMS indicators that decide how 43235 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 43235

Upper GI endoscopy, diagnostic, brushings or washings

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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)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

43235 without 51 · national office

$322.65

Upper GI endoscopy, diagnostic, brushings or washings

43235-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$161.33

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 43235 has changed in Montana

43235 · Office / nonfacility

$322.64

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $46.59 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $276.05 to $322.64 (16.9%).

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

    $276.05changed to$322.64

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.09 changed to 2.04
    • Practice expense RVU 6.18 changed to 7.38
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.24
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.978 changed to 0.998

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $287.08changed to$276.05

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 6.28 changed to 6.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.27

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $282.40changed to$287.08

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $293.27changed to$282.40

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 6.31 changed to 6.28
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $314.37changed to$293.27

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 6.75 changed to 6.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.26
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.977 changed to 0.978

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $311.39changed to$314.37

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 6.59 changed to 6.75

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $290.85changed to$311.39

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 5.63 changed to 6.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.304 changed to 0.977

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $280.62changed to$290.85

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 5.24 changed to 5.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.26
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.631 changed to 1.304

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $269.74changed to$280.62

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.93 changed to 5.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $265.73changed to$269.74

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.90 changed to 4.93
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.429 changed to 1.631

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $318.94changed to$265.73

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 2.19 changed to 2.09
    • Practice expense RVU 6.35 changed to 4.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.226 changed to 1.429

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $325.72changed to$318.94

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 6.47 changed to 6.35
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.30

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $324.10changed to$325.72

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $319.70changed to$324.10

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Work RVU 2.17 changed to 2.19
    • Practice expense RVU 6.37 changed to 6.47
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.165 changed to 1.226

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $312.95changed to$319.70

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Work RVU 2.39 changed to 2.17
    • Practice expense RVU 6.40 changed to 6.37
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.33
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.103 changed to 1.165

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $312.95

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$322.64$110.54RVU26D
2026-07-01$322.64$110.54RVU26C
2026-04-01$322.64$110.54RVU26B
2026-01-01$322.64$110.54RVU26A
2025-10-01$276.05$117.87RVU25D
2025-07-01$276.05$117.87RVU25C
2025-04-01$276.05$117.87RVU25B
2025-01-01$276.05$117.87RVU25A
2024-10-01$287.08$120.64RVU24D
2024-07-01$287.08$120.64RVU24C
2024-04-01$287.08$120.64RVU24B
2024-03-09$287.08$120.64RVU24AR
2024-01-01$282.40$118.67RVU24A
2023-10-01$293.27$121.80RVU23D
2023-07-01$293.27$121.80RVU23C
2023-04-01$293.27$121.80RVU23B
2023-01-01$293.27$121.80RVU23A
2022-10-01$314.37$124.04RVU22D
2022-07-01$314.37$124.04RVU22C
2022-04-01$314.37$124.04RVU22B
2022-01-01$314.37$124.04RVU22A
2021-10-01$311.39$124.37RVU21D
2021-07-01$311.39$124.37RVU21C
2021-04-01$311.39$124.37RVU21B
2021-01-01$311.39$124.37RVU21A
2020-10-01$290.85$130.61RVU20D
2020-07-01$290.85$130.61RVU20C
2020-04-01$290.85$130.61RVU20B
2020-01-01$290.85$130.61RVU20A
2019-10-01$280.62$135.39RVU19D
2019-07-01$280.62$135.39RVU19C
2019-04-01$280.62$135.39RVU19B
2019-01-01$280.62$135.39RVU19A
2018-10-01$269.74$136.55RVU18D
2018-07-01$269.74$136.55RVU18C
2018-04-01$269.74$136.55RVU18B
2018-01-01$269.74$136.55RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$265.73$134.02RVU17D
2017-07-01$265.73$134.02RVU17C
2017-04-01$265.73$134.02RVU17B
2017-01-01$265.73$134.02RVU17A
2016-10-01$318.94$136.69RVU16D
2016-07-01$318.94$136.69RVU16C
2016-04-01$318.94$136.69RVU16B
2016-01-01$318.94$136.69RVU16A
2015-10-01$325.72$139.95RVU15D
2015-07-01$325.72$139.95RVU15C
2015-04-01$324.10$139.25RVU15B
2015-01-01$324.10$139.25RVU15A
2014-10-01$319.70$138.08RVU14D
2014-07-01$319.70$138.08RVU14C
2014-04-01$319.70$138.08RVU14B
2014-01-01$319.70$138.08RVU14A
2013-10-01$312.95$149.30RVU13D
2013-07-01$312.95$149.30RVU13C
2013-04-01$312.95$149.30RVU13B
2013-01-01$312.95$149.30RVU13AR

Price 43235 for an earlier date of service

Where the Montana rate applies

Montana is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 497 cities and communities in Montana. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Absarokee
  • Acton
  • Alberton
  • Alder
  • Alzada
  • Amsterdam
  • Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
  • Antelope

Browse all communities in Montana

43235 billing questions

When should 43239 be reported instead?

Use 43239 when forceps biopsy is performed during the upper endoscopy. Do not separately report this diagnostic examination for the same session.

Are brushings or washings separately billable?

No. Brushings or washings, when performed as part of the diagnostic examination, are included in 43235.

Can 43235 be reported with an endoscopic treatment?

When the same session includes a therapeutic upper endoscopic procedure, report the procedure performed rather than separately reporting the diagnostic examination.

Should modifier 50 be appended?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service.

How does Medicare handle multiple procedures in one session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures in the same session are paid at 50%. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed for this procedure?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. 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 43235PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,163 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MontanaGPCI2026.csv, line 71 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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