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CPT code 49424: Cavity contrast study, existing abscess, cyst, or tract2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Delaware

Reports contrast injection and imaging to assess an existing abscess, cyst, or sinus tract, such as when evaluating a cavity reached through a drain.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality13.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Delaware, Medicare pays $169.17 for 49424 in the office and $31.89 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$169.17Office (non-facility)
$31.89Hospital or facility
−1.1%vs the national office rate ($171.01)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 49424 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 49424 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Delaware
  2. What 49424 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 49424 covers

A clinician injects contrast through an existing catheter or other access into an abscess cavity, cyst, or sinus tract, then obtains and interprets imaging to assess its shape, extent, or communication with nearby structures. This study is commonly performed by an interventional radiologist or another physician managing a percutaneous drain, in a hospital or outpatient setting. A sinogram through an established tract is a typical use; this code describes assessment, not placement of a new drainage catheter.

Report the study when documentation identifies the target cavity or tract, the reason for assessment, the contrast injection and imaging performed, and the findings. The service includes radiological supervision and interpretation. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 Delaware compares for 49424

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 49424 runs from $149.58 in Arkansas to $236.28 in San Benito County, CA. Delaware pays $169.17. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

49424 in Delaware vs other payment areas
  1. Delaware · this page$169.17
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$197.58+$28.41
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$198.24+$29.07
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$180.49+$11.32
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$174.93+$5.76
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$197.29+$28.12
  7. Alaska · Alaska$191.68+$22.51

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

Every other payment area

49424 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$152.00$30.42
ArkansasArkansas$149.58$30.22
ArizonaArizona$166.21$31.57
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$184.39$32.10
Chico, CACalifornia$184.17$31.88
El Centro, CACalifornia$184.18$31.89
Fresno, CACalifornia$184.17$31.88
Hanford, CACalifornia$184.17$31.88

49424 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$149.58

$210.23

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

View every state and territory as a table
49424 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$191.681
AL$152.001
AR$149.581
AZ$166.211
CA$184.17–$236.2829
CO$180.011
CT$183.081
DC$198.241
DE$169.171
FL$165.85–$180.493
GA$155.91–$173.862
GU$189.751
HI$189.751
IA$157.371
ID$158.261
IL$159.80–$176.884
IN$159.301
KS$156.031
KY$154.831
LA$154.36–$162.842
MA$178.56–$199.702
MD$172.80–$198.243
ME$158.61–$168.852
MI$158.79–$167.582
MN$173.541
MO$151.09–$164.113
MS$150.391
MT$171.011
NC$160.521
ND$169.621
NE$158.471
NH$176.621
NJ$185.47–$195.762
NM$159.531
NV$170.771
NY$163.12–$201.815
OH$158.511
OK$155.091
OR$169.74–$186.792
PA$159.08–$177.812
PR$172.561
RI$175.981
SC$159.721
SD$169.461
TN$156.831
TX$157.89–$179.158
UT$162.141
VA$167.88–$198.242
VI$172.561
VT$168.421
WA$178.40–$204.502
WI$163.351
WV$153.161
WY$170.401

See 49424 in every payment locality

How the 49424 rate is calculated

Each of 49424’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 · 49424

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.74

0.74 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.31

4.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.1200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$171.01

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

The exact Delaware inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,804

Code
49424
Physician work
0.74
Practice expense
4.31
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

40

Locality
Delaware
Physician work
1.005
Practice expense
0.988
Malpractice
0.899
Office calculation for 49424 in Delaware
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.74× 1.0050.7437
Practice expense4.31× 0.9884.2583
Malpractice0.07× 0.8990.0629
Total RVUs5.0649
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Delaware$169.17

Office: (0.74 × 1.005 + 4.31 × 0.988 + 0.07 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $169.17

Facility: (0.74 × 1.005 + 0.15 × 0.988 + 0.07 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $31.89

Open 49424 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 49424

The CMS indicators that decide how 49424 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 49424

Cavity contrast study, existing abscess, cyst, or tract

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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
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

49424 without 51 · national office

$171.01

Cavity contrast study, existing abscess, cyst, or tract

49424-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$85.51

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

Codes related to 49424

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

Codes related to 49424
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Delaware
Used instead
49405Visceral drainage, percutaneous catheter placementDescribes image-guided drainage catheter placement for a visceral collection rather than assessment of an existing cavity.$828.61
49406Catheter drainage, peritoneal or retroperitonealDescribes image-guided drainage catheter placement for a peritoneal or retroperitoneal collection.$827.95
49407Pelvic drainage, transvaginal or transrectalDescribes image-guided drainage catheter placement for a transvaginal or transrectal collection.$728.82
49423Drain catheter exchange, fluoroscopic exchangeDescribes exchange of a drainage catheter, rather than contrast assessment of the cavity or tract.$543.18
49427Shunt injection, peritoneovenous shunt assessmentAssesses an abdominal-venous shunt by injection; 49424 evaluates a cavity or sinus tract.No office rate

How 49424 has changed in Delaware

49424 · Office / nonfacility

$169.17

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.99 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $167.18 to $169.17 (1.2%).

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

    $167.18changed to$169.17

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.76 changed to 0.74
    • Practice expense RVU 4.37 changed to 4.31
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.992 changed to 0.988
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.949 changed to 0.899

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $176.98changed to$167.18

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.51 changed to 4.37
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $174.09changed to$176.98

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $188.18changed to$174.09

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.68 changed to 4.51
    • Work GPCI 1.007 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.007 changed to 0.992
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.938 changed to 0.949

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $199.47changed to$188.18

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.82 changed to 4.68
    • Work GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.022 changed to 1.007
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.938

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $194.77changed to$199.47

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 4.66 changed to 4.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $176.09changed to$194.77

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.95 changed to 4.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.022
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.023 changed to 0.927

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $159.67changed to$176.09

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 3.52 changed to 3.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.007 changed to 1.006
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.021
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.119 changed to 1.023

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $152.16changed to$159.67

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.32 changed to 3.52

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $152.08changed to$152.16

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 3.31 changed to 3.32
    • Work GPCI 1.010 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.101 changed to 1.119

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $153.55changed to$152.08

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 3.34 changed to 3.31
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.010
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.025
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.101

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $153.73changed to$153.55

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 3.33 changed to 3.34

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $152.96changed to$153.73

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $152.83changed to$152.96

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.31 changed to 3.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.038 changed to 1.031
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.878 changed to 1.083

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $155.29changed to$152.83

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.59 changed to 3.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.038
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.672 changed to 0.878

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $155.29

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$169.17$31.89RVU26D
2026-07-01$169.17$31.89RVU26C
2026-04-01$169.17$31.89RVU26B
2026-01-01$169.17$31.89RVU26A
2025-10-01$167.18$35.30RVU25D
2025-07-01$167.18$35.30RVU25C
2025-04-01$167.18$35.30RVU25B
2025-01-01$167.18$35.30RVU25A
2024-10-01$176.98$36.31RVU24D
2024-07-01$176.98$36.31RVU24C
2024-04-01$176.98$36.31RVU24B
2024-03-09$176.98$36.31RVU24AR
2024-01-01$174.09$35.72RVU24A
2023-10-01$188.18$37.35RVU23D
2023-07-01$188.18$37.35RVU23C
2023-04-01$188.18$37.35RVU23B
2023-01-01$188.18$37.35RVU23A
2022-10-01$199.47$38.19RVU22D
2022-07-01$199.47$38.19RVU22C
2022-04-01$199.47$38.19RVU22B
2022-01-01$199.47$38.19RVU22A
2021-10-01$194.77$37.86RVU21D
2021-07-01$194.77$37.86RVU21C
2021-04-01$194.77$37.86RVU21B
2021-01-01$194.77$37.86RVU21A
2020-10-01$176.09$40.50RVU20D
2020-07-01$176.09$40.50RVU20C
2020-04-01$176.09$40.50RVU20B
2020-01-01$176.09$40.50RVU20A
2019-10-01$159.67$40.32RVU19D
2019-07-01$159.67$40.32RVU19C
2019-04-01$159.67$40.32RVU19B
2019-01-01$159.67$40.32RVU19A
2018-10-01$152.16$40.28RVU18D
2018-07-01$152.16$40.28RVU18C
2018-04-01$152.16$40.28RVU18B
2018-01-01$152.16$40.28RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$152.08$40.61RVU17D
2017-07-01$152.08$40.61RVU17C
2017-04-01$152.08$40.61RVU17B
2017-01-01$152.08$40.61RVU17A
2016-10-01$153.55$40.59RVU16D
2016-07-01$153.55$40.59RVU16C
2016-04-01$153.55$40.59RVU16B
2016-01-01$153.55$40.59RVU16A
2015-10-01$153.73$40.73RVU15D
2015-07-01$153.73$40.73RVU15C
2015-04-01$152.96$40.53RVU15B
2015-01-01$152.96$40.53RVU15A
2014-10-01$152.83$40.54RVU14D
2014-07-01$152.83$40.54RVU14C
2014-04-01$152.83$40.54RVU14B
2014-01-01$152.83$40.54RVU14A
2013-10-01$155.29$38.42RVU13D
2013-07-01$155.29$38.42RVU13C
2013-04-01$155.29$38.42RVU13B
2013-01-01$155.29$38.42RVU13AR

Price 49424 for an earlier date of service

Where the Delaware rate applies

Delaware is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Arden
  • Ardencroft
  • Ardentown
  • Bear
  • Bellefonte
  • Bethany Beach
  • Bethel
  • Blades

Browse all communities in Delaware

49424 billing questions

When should I report this instead of a drainage-catheter placement code?

Report 49424 for contrast assessment of an existing cavity or tract. Codes 49405–49407 describe image-guided catheter placement to drain collections at specified sites.

Does this code include the imaging interpretation?

Yes. The service includes radiological supervision and interpretation along with the contrast injection.

Can I append modifier 50 for a study involving both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.

How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?

For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction.

What documentation supports reporting 49424?

Document the cavity or tract assessed, the clinical reason, the contrast injection and imaging, and the interpretation. The record should make clear that the study assessed an existing access or tract rather than placing a new drain.

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 49424PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,804 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for DelawareGPCI2026.csv, line 40 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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