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CPT code 52204: Cystoscopic biopsy, bladder tissue sampling2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Iowa

A urologist uses cystoscopy to collect bladder tissue for pathology when a visible abnormality or selected area needs histologic evaluation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality26.1K Medicare services in 2024

In Iowa, Medicare pays $326.48 for 52204 in the office and $117.44 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$326.48Office (non-facility)
$117.44Hospital or facility
−8.1%vs the national office rate ($355.39)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 52204 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 52204 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Iowa
  2. What 52204 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 52204 covers

A urologist passes a cystoscope through the urethra into the bladder, inspects the lining, and collects one or more tissue samples, commonly from a suspicious mucosal lesion. The samples are submitted for pathologic examination. The procedure may be performed in an office or a facility, depending on the patient and clinical circumstances.

Report 52204 for cystoscopic tissue sampling, rather than inspection alone or a session that treats a lesion by fulguration or resection. The operative note should identify the sampled site or sites and the reason for biopsy; report the procedure once, not by specimen count. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. Endoscopy-family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 52204

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 52204 runs from $313.28 in Arkansas to $474.12 in San Benito County, CA. Iowa pays $326.48. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

52204 in Iowa vs other payment areas
  1. Iowa · this page$326.48
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$402.53+$76.05
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$407.43+$80.95
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$383.39+$56.91
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$371.98+$45.50
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$409.49+$83.01
  7. Alaska · Alaska$409.41+$82.93

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

Every other payment area

52204 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$318.02$118.11
ArkansasArkansas$313.28$117.04
ArizonaArizona$345.70$124.33
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$377.47$127.07
Chico, CACalifornia$376.47$126.07
El Centro, CACalifornia$376.52$126.13
Fresno, CACalifornia$376.47$126.07
Hanford, CACalifornia$376.47$126.07

52204 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.

$313.28

$425.30

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

View every state and territory as a table
52204 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$409.411
AL$318.021
AR$313.281
AZ$345.701
CA$376.47–$474.1229
CO$370.521
CT$379.441
DC$407.431
DE$351.551
FL$349.68–$383.393
GA$329.54–$362.072
GU$386.161
HI$386.161
IA$326.481
ID$328.641
IL$339.20–$371.984
IN$330.601
KS$324.841
KY$325.611
LA$325.06–$341.622
MA$368.19–$407.952
MD$358.41–$407.433
ME$330.33–$348.862
MI$334.27–$354.092
MN$354.921
MO$319.28–$342.953
MS$316.351
MT$355.361
NC$333.901
ND$348.641
NE$328.341
NH$364.611
NJ$383.74–$403.012
NM$336.131
NV$353.751
NY$339.04–$419.585
OH$332.901
OK$325.081
OR$350.97–$382.642
PA$333.48–$369.742
PR$358.071
RI$364.331
SC$333.961
SD$347.841
TN$326.511
TX$331.22–$369.318
UT$338.661
VA$347.63–$407.432
VI$358.071
VT$347.181
WA$367.52–$416.442
WI$336.631
WV$326.281
WY$352.431

See 52204 in every payment locality

How the 52204 rate is calculated

Each of 52204’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 · 52204

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.53

2.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.77

7.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.34

0.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

10.6400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$355.39

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

6,111

Code
52204
Physician work
2.53
Practice expense
7.77
Malpractice
0.34

GPCI2026.csv

53

Locality
Iowa
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.915
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 52204 in Iowa
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.53× 1.0002.5300
Practice expense7.77× 0.9157.1095
Malpractice0.34× 0.3970.1350
Total RVUs9.7745
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Iowa$326.48

Office: (2.53 × 1 + 7.77 × 0.915 + 0.34 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $326.48

Facility: (2.53 × 1 + 0.93 × 0.915 + 0.34 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $117.44

Open 52204 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 52204

The CMS indicators that decide how 52204 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 52204

Cystoscopic biopsy, bladder tissue sampling

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

52204 without 51 · national office

$355.39

Cystoscopic biopsy, bladder tissue sampling

52204-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$177.70

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 52204

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

Codes related to 52204
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Iowa
Used instead
52214Cystoscopy treatment, fulguration at specified sitesFor cystoscopic treatment at specified lower urinary tract sites rather than tissue sampling.$667.88
52224Bladder lesion treatment, lesions under 0.5 cmFor cystoscopic treatment of bladder lesions rather than biopsy for tissue diagnosis.$698.32
52234Bladder tumor treatment, tumor 0.5 to 2.0 cmFor cystoscopic treatment or resection of small bladder tumors rather than tissue sampling.No office rate
52235Bladder tumor resection, medium, 2.0–5.0 cmFor cystoscopic treatment or resection of medium bladder tumors rather than tissue sampling.No office rate
52240Bladder tumor treatment, large tumor categoryFor cystoscopic treatment or resection of large bladder tumors rather than tissue sampling.No office rate

How 52204 has changed in Iowa

52204 · Office / nonfacility

$326.48

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $10.28 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $316.20 to $326.48 (3.3%).

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

    $316.20changed to$326.48

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.59 changed to 2.53
    • Practice expense RVU 7.72 changed to 7.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.34
    • 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

    $346.37changed to$316.20

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 8.40 changed to 7.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.30

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $340.72changed to$346.37

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $353.14changed to$340.72

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 8.46 changed to 8.40
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.32
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.910 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.441 changed to 0.457

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $365.07changed to$353.14

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 8.63 changed to 8.46
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • 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

    $373.32changed to$365.07

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 8.80 changed to 8.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.31

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $362.55changed to$373.32

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.08 changed to 8.80
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.424 changed to 0.425

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $357.15changed to$362.55

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.94 changed to 8.08
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.30
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.423 changed to 0.424

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $351.03changed to$357.15

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.76 changed to 7.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $344.39changed to$351.03

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.62 changed to 7.76
    • 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

    $340.06changed to$344.39

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 7.55 changed to 7.62
    • 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

    $341.14changed to$340.06

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 7.54 changed to 7.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $339.45changed to$341.14

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $332.86changed to$339.45

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.38 changed to 7.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.30
    • 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

    $334.49changed to$332.86

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 8.03 changed to 7.38
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25
    • 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: $334.49

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$326.48$117.44RVU26D
2026-07-01$326.48$117.44RVU26C
2026-04-01$326.48$117.44RVU26B
2026-01-01$326.48$117.44RVU26A
2025-10-01$316.20$127.19RVU25D
2025-07-01$316.20$127.19RVU25C
2025-04-01$316.20$127.19RVU25B
2025-01-01$316.20$127.19RVU25A
2024-10-01$346.37$129.98RVU24D
2024-07-01$346.37$129.98RVU24C
2024-04-01$346.37$129.98RVU24B
2024-03-09$346.37$129.98RVU24AR
2024-01-01$340.72$127.86RVU24A
2023-10-01$353.14$130.18RVU23D
2023-07-01$353.14$130.18RVU23C
2023-04-01$353.14$130.18RVU23B
2023-01-01$353.14$130.18RVU23A
2022-10-01$365.07$131.85RVU22D
2022-07-01$365.07$131.85RVU22C
2022-04-01$365.07$131.85RVU22B
2022-01-01$365.07$131.85RVU22A
2021-10-01$373.32$132.80RVU21D
2021-07-01$373.32$132.80RVU21C
2021-04-01$373.32$132.80RVU21B
2021-01-01$373.32$132.80RVU21A
2020-10-01$362.55$136.69RVU20D
2020-07-01$362.55$136.69RVU20C
2020-04-01$362.55$136.69RVU20B
2020-01-01$362.55$136.69RVU20A
2019-10-01$357.15$137.16RVU19D
2019-07-01$357.15$137.16RVU19C
2019-04-01$357.15$137.16RVU19B
2019-01-01$357.15$137.16RVU19A
2018-10-01$351.03$137.82RVU18D
2018-07-01$351.03$137.82RVU18C
2018-04-01$351.03$137.82RVU18B
2018-01-01$351.03$137.82RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$344.39$137.21RVU17D
2017-07-01$344.39$137.21RVU17C
2017-04-01$344.39$137.21RVU17B
2017-01-01$344.39$137.21RVU17A
2016-10-01$340.06$136.35RVU16D
2016-07-01$340.06$136.35RVU16C
2016-04-01$340.06$136.35RVU16B
2016-01-01$340.06$136.35RVU16A
2015-10-01$341.14$137.02RVU15D
2015-07-01$341.14$137.02RVU15C
2015-04-01$339.45$136.34RVU15B
2015-01-01$339.45$136.34RVU15A
2014-10-01$332.86$135.06RVU14D
2014-07-01$332.86$135.06RVU14C
2014-04-01$332.86$135.06RVU14B
2014-01-01$332.86$135.06RVU14A
2013-10-01$334.49$129.88RVU13D
2013-07-01$334.49$129.88RVU13C
2013-04-01$334.49$129.88RVU13B
2013-01-01$334.49$129.88RVU13AR

Price 52204 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

52204 billing questions

When is 52204 appropriate instead of a treatment code?

Use 52204 when cystoscopy is used to obtain tissue for examination. When the session treats a lesion by fulguration or resection instead, select the code that describes that treatment.

Is 52204 reported once for each biopsy specimen?

No. Report the procedure once for the cystoscopic biopsy session, not once per specimen. Document the sampled site or sites and the clinical reason for sampling.

How does 52204 differ from diagnostic cystoscopy?

A diagnostic cystoscopy involves inspection without tissue sampling. Report 52204 when the cystoscopic procedure includes biopsy.

Can modifier 50 be used for biopsies from both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 is not used.

What happens when related endoscopies are performed in the same session?

CMS endoscopy-family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. The same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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 52204PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,111 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for IowaGPCI2026.csv, line 53 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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