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CPT code 52648: Laser prostate surgery, vaporization2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Iowa

Transurethral laser vaporization removes obstructive prostate tissue for benign enlargement when the surgeon vaporizes tissue rather than resecting or enucleating it.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality14.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Iowa, Medicare pays $489.34 for 52648 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Not available in this settingOffice (non-facility)
$489.34Hospital or facility

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 52648 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 52648 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Iowa
  2. What 52648 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 52648 covers

A urologist performs this transurethral procedure to relieve obstruction from benign prostate enlargement, often in a patient with bothersome urinary symptoms or retention. The surgeon directs laser energy through an endoscope to vaporize the obstructive tissue. It is performed in an operating room or other surgical setting; unlike tissue-removing techniques, vaporization does not typically yield a resection specimen for pathology.

Report 52648 when the operative technique is laser vaporization, not transurethral resection or laser enucleation. The operative report should identify the laser vaporization method, treated prostate tissue, and the clinical indication. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is not appropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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 52648

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 52648 runs from $485.46 in Arkansas to $683.33 in Alaska. Iowa pays $489.34. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

52648 in Iowa vs other payment areas
  1. Iowa · this page$489.34
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$556.60+$67.26
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$579.11+$89.77
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$599.77+$110.43
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$586.42+$97.08
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$599.91+$110.57
  7. Alaska · Alaska$683.33+$193.99

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

Every other payment area

52648 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama—$490.16
ArkansasArkansas—$485.46
ArizonaArizona—$517.38
Bakersfield, CACalifornia—$533.27
Chico, CACalifornia—$529.52
El Centro, CACalifornia—$529.73
Fresno, CACalifornia—$529.52
Hanford, CACalifornia—$529.52

52648 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.

View every state and territory as a table
52648 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

See 52648 in every payment locality

How the 52648 rate is calculated

Each of 52648’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 · 52648

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work9.80

9.80 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.75

4.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.27

1.27 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

15.8200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$528.40

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

6,168

Code
52648
Physician work
9.80
Practice expense
4.75
Malpractice
1.27

GPCI2026.csv

53

Locality
Iowa
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.915
Malpractice
0.397
Facility calculation for 52648 in Iowa
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work9.80× 1.0009.8000
Practice expense4.75× 0.9154.3463
Malpractice1.27× 0.3970.5042
Total RVUs14.6504
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Facility rate, Iowa$489.34

Facility: (9.8 × 1 + 4.75 × 0.915 + 1.27 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $489.34

Open 52648 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 52648

52648 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 52648

Laser prostate surgery, vaporization

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are 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.
Split (54/55/56)0.08/0.83/0.09Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 52648

Laser prostate surgery, vaporization

90-day global period ends

Dec 30, 2026

Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

52648 without 51 · national facility

$528.40

Laser prostate surgery, vaporization

52648-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$264.20

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 52648

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

Codes related to 52648
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Iowa
Used instead
52649Laser enucleation, complete gland enucleationLaser enucleation is a different technique for treating obstructive prostate tissue.No office rate
52601TURP, electrosurgical resectionTransurethral resection is an alternative when the surgeon resects rather than vaporizes prostate tissue.No office rate
52630Prostate resection, residual or recurrent tissueUsed for transurethral treatment of residual or regrown prostate tissue after prior prostate surgery.No office rate

How 52648 has changed in Iowa

52648 · Office / nonfacility

Rate unavailable

Effective 2026-10-01

A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.

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

    $1391.97changed toNo rate

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $1477.74changed to$1391.97

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 34.57 changed to 33.09
    • Malpractice RVU 1.49 changed to 1.47

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $1453.62changed to$1477.74

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $1505.61changed to$1453.62

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 34.77 changed to 34.57
    • Malpractice RVU 1.45 changed to 1.49
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.910 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.441 changed to 0.457

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $1555.14changed to$1505.61

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 35.48 changed to 34.77
    • Malpractice RVU 1.43 changed to 1.45
    • 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

    $1607.44changed to$1555.14

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 36.73 changed to 35.48
    • Malpractice RVU 1.42 changed to 1.43

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $1581.85changed to$1607.44

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 34.28 changed to 36.73
    • Malpractice RVU 1.39 changed to 1.42
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.424 changed to 0.425

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $1577.85changed to$1581.85

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 34.25 changed to 34.28
    • Malpractice RVU 1.34 changed to 1.39
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.423 changed to 0.424

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $1742.64changed to$1577.85

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 39.35 changed to 34.25

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $1709.88changed to$1742.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 38.67 changed to 39.35
    • 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

    $1688.04changed to$1709.88

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 38.31 changed to 38.67
    • Malpractice RVU 1.36 changed to 1.34
    • 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

    $1690.73changed to$1688.04

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 38.21 changed to 38.31
    • Malpractice RVU 1.35 changed to 1.36

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $1682.32changed to$1690.73

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $1656.92changed to$1682.32

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 37.62 changed to 38.21
    • Malpractice RVU 1.15 changed to 1.35
    • 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

    $1668.71changed to$1656.92

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 40.98 changed to 37.62
    • Malpractice RVU 1.20 changed to 1.15
    • 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: $1668.71

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01Not available in this setting$489.34RVU26D
2026-07-01Not available in this setting$489.34RVU26C
2026-04-01Not available in this setting$489.34RVU26B
2026-01-01Not available in this setting$489.34RVU26A
2025-10-01$1,391.97$628.55RVU25D
2025-07-01$1,391.97$628.55RVU25C
2025-04-01$1,391.97$628.55RVU25B
2025-01-01$1,391.97$628.55RVU25A
2024-10-01$1,477.74$642.28RVU24D
2024-07-01$1,477.74$642.28RVU24C
2024-04-01$1,477.74$642.28RVU24B
2024-03-09$1,477.74$642.28RVU24AR
2024-01-01$1,453.62$631.80RVU24A
2023-10-01$1,505.61$644.33RVU23D
2023-07-01$1,505.61$644.33RVU23C
2023-04-01$1,505.61$644.33RVU23B
2023-01-01$1,505.61$644.33RVU23A
2022-10-01$1,555.14$650.54RVU22D
2022-07-01$1,555.14$650.54RVU22C
2022-04-01$1,555.14$650.54RVU22B
2022-01-01$1,555.14$650.54RVU22A
2021-10-01$1,607.44$653.89RVU21D
2021-07-01$1,607.44$653.89RVU21C
2021-04-01$1,607.44$653.89RVU21B
2021-01-01$1,607.44$653.89RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,581.85$669.25RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,581.85$669.25RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,581.85$669.25RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,581.85$669.25RVU20A
2019-10-01$1,577.85$670.12RVU19D
2019-07-01$1,577.85$670.12RVU19C
2019-04-01$1,577.85$670.12RVU19B
2019-01-01$1,577.85$670.12RVU19A
2018-10-01$1,742.64$670.69RVU18D
2018-07-01$1,742.64$670.69RVU18C
2018-04-01$1,742.64$670.69RVU18B
2018-01-01$1,742.64$670.69RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$1,709.88$666.22RVU17D
2017-07-01$1,709.88$666.22RVU17C
2017-04-01$1,709.88$666.22RVU17B
2017-01-01$1,709.88$666.22RVU17A
2016-10-01$1,688.04$662.10RVU16D
2016-07-01$1,688.04$662.10RVU16C
2016-04-01$1,688.04$662.10RVU16B
2016-01-01$1,688.04$662.10RVU16A
2015-10-01$1,690.73$663.02RVU15D
2015-07-01$1,690.73$663.02RVU15C
2015-04-01$1,682.32$659.72RVU15B
2015-01-01$1,682.32$659.72RVU15A
2014-10-01$1,656.92$655.49RVU14D
2014-07-01$1,656.92$655.49RVU14C
2014-04-01$1,656.92$655.49RVU14B
2014-01-01$1,656.92$655.49RVU14A
2013-10-01$1,668.71$632.08RVU13D
2013-07-01$1,668.71$632.08RVU13C
2013-04-01$1,668.71$632.08RVU13B
2013-01-01$1,668.71$632.08RVU13AR

Price 52648 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

52648 billing questions

How does 52648 differ from 52649?

52648 is for laser vaporization of obstructive prostate tissue. Use 52649 when the surgeon performs laser enucleation instead.

How does 52648 differ from TURP, code 52601?

52648 describes laser vaporization; 52601 describes transurethral resection. Select the code that matches the operative technique documented.

Is control of bleeding included?

Control of bleeding associated with the prostate procedure is included in 52648; it is not separately reported as another prostate procedure.

What postoperative care is included in the global period?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?

Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this prostate procedure. Medicare does not pay an assistant-at-surgery claim for 52648.

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures in the session are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.

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 52648PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,168 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for IowaGPCI2026.csv, line 53 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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