CPT code 47381: Liver tumor ablation, open cryosurgical approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,382.80 for 47381 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 47381 covers

The surgeon exposes the liver through an open operation and uses a cryoprobe to freeze and destroy a tumor. This may be used for a primary liver tumor or a metastatic lesion. Hepatobiliary, transplant, or general surgeons typically perform the procedure in an operating room, with the approach and treatment documented in the operative report.

Report this code when the tumor is ablated by cryosurgery through an open approach; laparoscopic and percutaneous access use different codes. Documentation should identify the open approach, cryosurgical method, treated tumor, and operative work. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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.

Where 47381 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

47381 rates by state

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

How the 47381 rate is calculated

Each of 47381’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 47381

47381 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

47381 compared with similar codes

How to choose

47380Liver ablationOpen approach, radiofrequency

Both are open liver tumor ablation procedures. Choose 47381 for cryosurgical treatment and 47380 for radiofrequency ablation.

47371Liver ablationLaparoscopic cryosurgical technique

Both use cryosurgery for a liver tumor, but 47371 describes a laparoscopic approach; 47381 describes an open approach.

47383Liver ablationPercutaneous cryoablation

Both use cryosurgery, but 47383 is for percutaneous access. Report 47381 when the surgeon uses an open approach.

47382Liver ablationPercutaneous radiofrequency

47382 describes percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. For open cryosurgical ablation, use 47381.

Codes related to 47381

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

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