CPT code 43270: Lesion ablation, upper GI endoscopy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Merced, CA

Report this service when an upper endoscopy is used to ablate a tumor, polyp, or other upper-GI lesion rather than remove it conventionally.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality18.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Merced, CA, Medicare pays $861.13 for 43270 in the office and $198.17 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$861.13Office (non-facility)
$198.17Hospital or facility
+7.3%vs the national office rate ($802.62)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 43270 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 43270 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Merced, CA
  2. What 43270 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 43270 covers

During an upper endoscopy, a gastroenterologist or other qualified physician applies an ablative method to a tumor, polyp, or other lesion in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Examples include radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus with dysplasia and argon plasma coagulation of selected mucosal lesions. The service is performed in settings equipped for therapeutic endoscopy, including hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgery centers.

Select this service when the lesion is treated by ablation rather than removed with a snare, hot biopsy forceps, or bipolar cautery. The report should identify the lesion’s location, the ablation performed, and the clinical reason for choosing ablation. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this upper-GI service. CMS does not pay for an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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 Merced, CA compares for 43270

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 43270 runs from $702.81 in Arkansas to $1,100.71 in San Benito County, CA. Merced, CA pays $861.13. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

43270 in Merced, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Merced, CA · this page$861.13
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$862.46+$1.33
  3. Chico, CA · California$861.13
  4. El Centro, CA · California$861.20+$0.07
  5. Fresno, CA · California$861.13
  6. Hanford, CA · California$861.13
  7. Los Angeles, CA · California$923.33+$62.20

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

Every other payment area

43270 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Madera, CACalifornia$861.13$198.17
Modesto, CACalifornia$861.13$198.17
Napa, CACalifornia$1,012.65$215.41
Oxnard, CACalifornia$920.37$205.39
Redding, CACalifornia$861.13$198.17
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$861.13$198.17
Riverside, CACalifornia$865.92$202.96
Sacramento, CACalifornia$907.65$204.16

43270 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.

$702.81

$980.92

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

View every state and territory as a table
43270 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$904.051
AL$714.081
AR$702.811
AZ$780.131
CA$861.13–$1,100.7129
CO$843.041
CT$858.941
DC$928.341
DE$793.901
FL$781.09–$852.043
GA$734.45–$816.492
GU$886.491
HI$886.491
IA$737.891
ID$742.291
IL$753.71–$832.634
IN$747.081
KS$732.231
KY$728.411
LA$726.41–$765.842
MA$836.57–$933.882
MD$810.61–$928.343
ME$744.48–$791.282
MI$747.33–$789.702
MN$811.341
MO$711.53–$771.103
MS$707.421
MT$802.591
NC$753.281
ND$793.891
NE$742.871
NH$827.741
NJ$869.75–$917.022
NM$751.021
NV$800.831
NY$765.39–$947.815
OH$745.551
OK$729.011
OR$795.63–$873.912
PA$747.91–$834.762
PR$809.631
RI$825.211
SC$750.461
SD$792.871
TN$736.001
TX$742.42–$839.338
UT$761.681
VA$787.13–$928.342
VI$809.631
VT$788.791
WA$835.65–$955.682
WI$764.851
WV$722.851
WY$798.801

See 43270 in every payment locality

How the 43270 rate is calculated

Each of 43270’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 · 43270

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.91

3.91 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense19.68

19.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.44

0.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

24.0300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$802.62

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

The exact Merced, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,196

Code
43270
Physician work
3.91
Practice expense
19.68
Malpractice
0.44

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced, CA
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office calculation for 43270 in Merced, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.91× 1.0173.9765
Practice expense19.68× 1.09621.5693
Malpractice0.44× 0.5360.2358
Total RVUs25.7816
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Merced, CA$861.13

Office: (3.91 × 1.017 + 19.68 × 1.096 + 0.44 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $861.13

Facility: (3.91 × 1.017 + 1.57 × 1.096 + 0.44 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $198.17

Open 43270 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 43270

The CMS indicators that decide how 43270 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 43270

Lesion ablation, upper GI endoscopy

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

43270 without 51 · national office

$802.62

Lesion ablation, upper GI endoscopy

43270-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$401.31

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 43270 has changed in Merced, CA

43270 · Office / nonfacility

$861.13

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $132.60 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $728.53 to $861.13 (18.2%).

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

    $728.53changed to$861.13

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.01 changed to 3.91
    • Practice expense RVU 16.63 changed to 19.68
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.44
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $773.18changed to$728.53

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 17.29 changed to 16.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.50

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $760.56changed to$773.18

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $789.47changed to$760.56

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 17.55 changed to 17.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.47
    • Work GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.079 changed to 1.093
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.579 changed to 0.560
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $824.38changed to$789.47

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 18.26 changed to 17.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.46
    • Work GPCI 1.027 changed to 1.021
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.065 changed to 1.079
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.597 changed to 0.579

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $829.57changed to$824.38

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 18.21 changed to 18.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.43

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $771.39changed to$829.57

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 15.90 changed to 18.21
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.027
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.070 changed to 1.065
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.580 changed to 0.597

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $743.36changed to$771.39

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 15.13 changed to 15.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.44
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.024
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.074 changed to 1.070
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.562 changed to 0.580

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $718.96changed to$743.36

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 14.52 changed to 15.13

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $715.99changed to$718.96

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 14.39 changed to 14.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 0.51
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.079 changed to 1.074
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.610 changed to 0.562

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    No ratechanged to$715.99

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    No ratechanged toNo rate

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$861.13$198.17RVU26D
2026-07-01$861.13$198.17RVU26C
2026-04-01$861.13$198.17RVU26B
2026-01-01$861.13$198.17RVU26A
2025-10-01$728.53$216.24RVU25D
2025-07-01$728.53$216.24RVU25C
2025-04-01$728.53$216.24RVU25B
2025-01-01$728.53$216.24RVU25A
2024-10-01$773.18$221.61RVU24D
2024-07-01$773.18$221.61RVU24C
2024-04-01$773.18$221.61RVU24B
2024-03-09$773.18$221.61RVU24AR
2024-01-01$760.56$217.99RVU24A
2023-10-01$789.47$224.55RVU23D
2023-07-01$789.47$224.55RVU23C
2023-04-01$789.47$224.55RVU23B
2023-01-01$789.47$224.55RVU23A
2022-10-01$824.38$229.17RVU22D
2022-07-01$824.38$229.17RVU22C
2022-04-01$824.38$229.17RVU22B
2022-01-01$824.38$229.17RVU22A
2021-10-01$829.57$230.16RVU21D
2021-07-01$829.57$230.16RVU21C
2021-04-01$829.57$230.16RVU21B
2021-01-01$829.57$230.16RVU21A
2020-10-01$771.39$235.79RVU20D
2020-07-01$771.39$235.79RVU20C
2020-04-01$771.39$235.79RVU20B
2020-01-01$771.39$235.79RVU20A
2019-10-01$743.36$237.08RVU19D
2019-07-01$743.36$237.08RVU19C
2019-04-01$743.36$237.08RVU19B
2019-01-01$743.36$237.08RVU19A
2018-10-01$718.96$237.98RVU18D
2018-07-01$718.96$237.98RVU18C
2018-04-01$718.96$237.98RVU18B
2018-01-01$718.96$237.98RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$715.99$239.30RVU17D
2017-07-01$715.99$239.30RVU17C
2017-04-01$715.99$239.30RVU17B
2017-01-01$715.99$239.30RVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13D
2013-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13C
2013-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13B
2013-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13AR

Price 43270 for an earlier date of service

Where the Merced, CA rate applies

Merced, 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.

  • Merced
  • Atwater
  • Ballico
  • Bear Creek
  • Cressey
  • Delhi
  • Dos Palos
  • Dos Palos Y

Browse all communities in California

43270 billing questions

When should this be reported instead of 43254?

Report 43270 for ablation of an upper-GI lesion. Use 43254 when the physician removes a lesion by endoscopic mucosal resection.

Can diagnostic inspection of the upper GI tract be billed separately?

The endoscopic inspection used to locate and treat the lesion is part of the therapeutic service. Do not report a separate diagnostic endoscopy for that same inspection.

Should modifier 50 be appended for lesions on both sides?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this upper-GI endoscopic service.

What documentation supports reporting this service?

Document the lesion’s location and nature, the ablation method, and why ablation was selected rather than conventional removal.

Are assistant or co-surgeon modifiers payable?

CMS does not pay for an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting are not permitted.

How does CMS price this with another endoscopy in the same session?

CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together; the services are priced under that family rule.

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 43270PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,196 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Merced, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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