CPT code 47001: Liver biopsy, during another major procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
A surgeon obtains a needle sample of liver tissue during another major operation when intraoperative findings or clinical need warrant histologic evaluation.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 47001 in California.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 47001 covers
The surgeon takes a needle sample of liver tissue while performing a separate major operation. This service is used when liver tissue needs histologic assessment during that operation, such as when an abnormal-appearing liver is encountered during abdominal surgery. It is generally performed in the operating room by the surgeon carrying out the primary procedure.
Report 47001 only with the code for the primary major procedure; it is not a stand-alone liver biopsy code. Use 47000 for a percutaneous needle biopsy performed as the procedure itself, and 47100 when tissue is obtained by wedge excision rather than needle sampling. The operative report should identify the primary procedure, document that a needle biopsy was performed, and explain the clinical reason for sampling. CMS payment for this add-on falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
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.
Where 47001 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $89.00 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $87.81 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $92.53 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $96.06 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $93.47 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $91.07 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $92.77 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $89.91 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $89.54 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $98.68 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $90.13 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $95.53 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $88.38 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $96.49 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $89.77 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $89.46 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $90.52 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $92.70 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $87.73 |
How the 47001 rate is calculated
Each of 47001’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 · 47001
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.85
1.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.45
0.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.47
0.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
2.7700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$92.52
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 47001
The CMS indicators that decide how 47001 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 47001
Liver biopsy, during another major procedure
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
47001 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 47000Liver biopsyPercutaneous needle
- 47000 is for a percutaneous needle biopsy performed as the procedure itself; 47001 is used when needle sampling occurs during another major operation.
- 47100Liver biopsyWedge tissue sample
- Choose 47100 for wedge excision of liver tissue. Choose 47001 when the intraoperative sample is obtained with a needle.
- 47010Liver drainageOpen, one or two stages
- 47010 addresses operative drainage of a liver abscess or cyst, not sampling liver tissue for biopsy.
47001 billing questions
Can 47001 be billed without a primary procedure?
No. Report it only with the code for the primary major procedure performed during the same operation.
How do I choose between 47001 and 47000?
Use 47001 for needle sampling performed during another major operation. Use 47000 for a percutaneous needle biopsy performed as the procedure itself.
How does 47001 differ from 47100?
47001 describes needle sampling during another major procedure. 47100 is for obtaining liver tissue by wedge excision.
What documentation supports reporting 47001?
The operative report should identify the primary operation, confirm that a liver needle biopsy was performed, and document the reason for sampling.
How does the global period affect payment?
CMS treats 47001 as an add-on paid within the primary procedure’s global period.
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
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