CPT code 49082: Paracentesis, without imaging guidance2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Iowa

Needle drainage of peritoneal fluid without imaging guidance for diagnostic sampling or relief of ascites is reported with CPT 49082.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality8.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Iowa, Medicare pays $224.30 for 49082 in the office and $65.07 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$224.30Office (non-facility)
$65.07Hospital or facility
−8.5%vs the national office rate ($245.16)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 49082 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 49082 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Iowa
  2. What 49082 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 49082 covers

49082 represents needle or catheter entry through the abdominal wall into the peritoneal cavity to withdraw ascitic fluid without imaging guidance. The procedure may be diagnostic, such as sampling new or worsening ascites for evaluation, or therapeutic to relieve symptomatic fluid accumulation, including ascites associated with cirrhosis or malignancy. Physicians commonly perform it at the bedside or in hospital and clinic settings.

Choose 49082 when the tap is performed without imaging guidance; when imaging guides the procedure, report 49083 instead. Documentation should identify the indication, technique, fluid obtained, amount removed, and whether a specimen was sent for testing. Separately performed laboratory analysis is reported under the applicable lab codes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. 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 Iowa compares for 49082

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 49082 runs from $214.00 in Arkansas to $334.05 in San Benito County, CA. Iowa pays $224.30. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

49082 in Iowa vs other payment areas
  1. Iowa · this page$224.30
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$280.82+$56.52
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$283.36+$59.06
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$263.50+$39.20
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$255.09+$30.79
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$283.75+$59.45
  7. Alaska · Alaska$275.25+$50.95

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

Every other payment area

49082 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$217.50$65.24
ArkansasArkansas$214.00$64.51
ArizonaArizona$238.06$69.44
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$262.33$71.61
Chico, CACalifornia$261.76$71.04
El Centro, CACalifornia$261.80$71.07
Fresno, CACalifornia$261.76$71.04
Hanford, CACalifornia$261.76$71.04

49082 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.

$214.00

$297.91

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

View every state and territory as a table
49082 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$275.251
AL$217.501
AR$214.001
AZ$238.061
CA$261.76–$334.0529
CO$256.861
CT$262.621
DC$283.361
DE$242.311
FL$239.81–$263.503
GA$225.05–$249.802
GU$269.491
HI$269.491
IA$224.301
ID$225.801
IL$231.69–$255.954
IN$227.271
KS$222.831
KY$222.611
LA$222.10–$234.392
MA$254.95–$284.512
MD$247.40–$283.363
ME$226.79–$240.922
MI$228.79–$242.812
MN$246.201
MO$217.66–$235.673
MS$215.891
MT$245.151
NC$229.481
ND$241.191
NE$225.761
NH$252.451
NJ$265.65–$279.852
NM$230.071
NV$244.251
NY$233.28–$290.915
OH$227.981
OK$222.481
OR$242.39–$266.082
PA$228.55–$255.302
PR$247.241
RI$251.751
SC$229.111
SD$240.731
TN$224.051
TX$226.86–$255.978
UT$232.601
VA$239.83–$283.362
VI$247.241
VT$239.881
WA$254.59–$290.922
WI$232.221
WV$222.091
WY$243.431

See 49082 in every payment locality

How the 49082 rate is calculated

Each of 49082’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 · 49082

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.21

1.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.93

5.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.20

0.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

7.3400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$245.16

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

The exact Iowa inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,770

Code
49082
Physician work
1.21
Practice expense
5.93
Malpractice
0.20

GPCI2026.csv

53

Locality
Iowa
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.915
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 49082 in Iowa
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.21× 1.0001.2100
Practice expense5.93× 0.9155.4260
Malpractice0.20× 0.3970.0794
Total RVUs6.7153
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Iowa$224.30

Office: (1.21 × 1 + 5.93 × 0.915 + 0.2 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $224.30

Facility: (1.21 × 1 + 0.72 × 0.915 + 0.2 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $65.07

Open 49082 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 49082

The CMS indicators that decide how 49082 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 49082

Paracentesis, without imaging guidance

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

49082 without 51 · national office

$245.16

Paracentesis, without imaging guidance

49082-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$122.58

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 49082 has changed in Iowa

49082 · Office / nonfacility

$224.30

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $40.66 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $183.64 to $224.30 (22.1%).

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

    $183.64changed to$224.30

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.24 changed to 1.21
    • Practice expense RVU 4.77 changed to 5.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.20
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.915
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.457 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $193.69changed to$183.64

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.92 changed to 4.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.19 changed to 0.18

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $190.53changed to$193.69

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $197.50changed to$190.53

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.95 changed to 4.92
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.910 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.441 changed to 0.457
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $204.21changed to$197.50

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.05 changed to 4.95
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.910
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.425 changed to 0.441

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $205.93changed to$204.21

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.06 changed to 5.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.19

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $191.53changed to$205.93

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.40 changed to 5.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.17
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.424 changed to 0.425

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $186.70changed to$191.53

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.27 changed to 4.40
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.18
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.423 changed to 0.424

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $182.91changed to$186.70

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.16 changed to 4.27

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $179.21changed to$182.91

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.08 changed to 4.16
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.458 changed to 0.423

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $177.47changed to$179.21

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.06 changed to 4.08
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.493 changed to 0.458

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $179.57changed to$177.47

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.10 changed to 4.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.16

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $178.68changed to$179.57

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $175.39changed to$178.68

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.04 changed to 4.10
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.17
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.475 changed to 0.493

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $163.40changed to$175.39

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.96 changed to 4.04
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.887 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.456 changed to 0.475

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $163.40

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$224.30$65.07RVU26D
2026-07-01$224.30$65.07RVU26C
2026-04-01$224.30$65.07RVU26B
2026-01-01$224.30$65.07RVU26A
2025-10-01$183.64$65.22RVU25D
2025-07-01$183.64$65.22RVU25C
2025-04-01$183.64$65.22RVU25B
2025-01-01$183.64$65.22RVU25A
2024-10-01$193.69$66.96RVU24D
2024-07-01$193.69$66.96RVU24C
2024-04-01$193.69$66.96RVU24B
2024-03-09$193.69$66.96RVU24AR
2024-01-01$190.53$65.87RVU24A
2023-10-01$197.50$67.37RVU23D
2023-07-01$197.50$67.37RVU23C
2023-04-01$197.50$67.37RVU23B
2023-01-01$197.50$67.37RVU23A
2022-10-01$204.21$68.62RVU22D
2022-07-01$204.21$68.62RVU22C
2022-04-01$204.21$68.62RVU22B
2022-01-01$204.21$68.62RVU22A
2021-10-01$205.93$68.58RVU21D
2021-07-01$205.93$68.58RVU21C
2021-04-01$205.93$68.58RVU21B
2021-01-01$205.93$68.58RVU21A
2020-10-01$191.53$71.07RVU20D
2020-07-01$191.53$71.07RVU20C
2020-04-01$191.53$71.07RVU20B
2020-01-01$191.53$71.07RVU20A
2019-10-01$186.70$70.66RVU19D
2019-07-01$186.70$70.66RVU19C
2019-04-01$186.70$70.66RVU19B
2019-01-01$186.70$70.66RVU19A
2018-10-01$182.91$71.24RVU18D
2018-07-01$182.91$71.24RVU18C
2018-04-01$182.91$71.24RVU18B
2018-01-01$182.91$71.24RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$179.21$71.41RVU17D
2017-07-01$179.21$71.41RVU17C
2017-04-01$179.21$71.41RVU17B
2017-01-01$179.21$71.41RVU17A
2016-10-01$177.47$71.28RVU16D
2016-07-01$177.47$71.28RVU16C
2016-04-01$177.47$71.28RVU16B
2016-01-01$177.47$71.28RVU16A
2015-10-01$179.57$72.04RVU15D
2015-07-01$179.57$72.04RVU15C
2015-04-01$178.68$71.68RVU15B
2015-01-01$178.68$71.68RVU15A
2014-10-01$175.39$70.90RVU14D
2014-07-01$175.39$70.90RVU14C
2014-04-01$175.39$70.90RVU14B
2014-01-01$175.39$70.90RVU14A
2013-10-01$163.40$67.43RVU13D
2013-07-01$163.40$67.43RVU13C
2013-04-01$163.40$67.43RVU13B
2013-01-01$163.40$67.43RVU13AR

Price 49082 for an earlier date of service

Where the Iowa rate applies

Iowa is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1026 cities and communities in Iowa. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ackley
  • Ackworth
  • Adair
  • Adel
  • Afton
  • Agency
  • Ainsworth
  • Akron

Browse all communities in Iowa

49082 billing questions

When should I report 49083 instead?

Report 49083 when imaging guidance is used for the paracentesis. Use 49082 when the procedure is performed without imaging guidance.

Can the ascitic-fluid tests be billed separately?

Yes. Separately performed laboratory testing, such as a fluid cell count or albumin measurement, may be reported under the applicable laboratory codes.

Is modifier 50 appropriate for bilateral paracentesis?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

How many units should be reported when a large volume is removed?

Report the procedure, not a unit for each volume removed. Document the amount drained, but do not use the volume as the unit count.

Does the code include same-day care?

Yes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

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 49082PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,770 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for IowaGPCI2026.csv, line 53 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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