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CPT code 57421: Colposcopy, entire vagina with biopsy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Houston, TX

Report this service when colposcopic examination of the entire vagina, including the cervix if present, includes directed biopsy of vaginal or cervical tissue.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.3K Medicare services in 2024

In Houston, TX, Medicare pays $187.21 for 57421 in the office and $114.91 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$187.21Office (non-facility)
$114.91Hospital or facility
+2.8%vs the national office rate ($182.03)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 57421 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 57421 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Houston, TX
  2. What 57421 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 57421 covers

A clinician uses a colposcope to inspect the entire vaginal canal and, when present, the cervix, then takes directed tissue samples from abnormal areas. Gynecologists commonly perform this in an office or outpatient facility when evaluating abnormal vaginal cytology, suspected vaginal intraepithelial lesions, or visible lesions requiring histologic assessment, including in patients who have had a hysterectomy.

Report the service when the examination covers the entire vagina and includes biopsy; the code accounts for the colposcopic examination and biopsy work. The record should identify the examined anatomy, the abnormal area sampled, and the clinical reason for sampling. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and 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 Houston, TX compares for 57421

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 57421 runs from $161.67 in Arkansas to $225.94 in San Benito County, CA. Houston, TX pays $187.21. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

57421 in Houston, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Houston, TX · this page$187.21
  2. Austin, TX · Texas$186.16−$1.05
  3. Beaumont, TX · Texas$172.38−$14.83
  4. Brazoria, TX · Texas$178.66−$8.55
  5. Dallas, TX · Texas$180.30−$6.91
  6. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$179.52−$7.69
  7. Galveston, TX · Texas$179.52−$7.69

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

Every other payment area

57421 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$175.77$106.67
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$197.87$111.73
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$204.62$118.85
Miami, FLFlorida$207.43$131.63
Chicago, ILIllinois$201.19$128.01
Manhattan, NYNew York$210.44$125.83
AlaskaAlaska$217.89$140.35
AlabamaAlabama$163.92$100.21

57421 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.

$161.67

$217.89

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

View every state and territory as a table
57421 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$217.891
AL$163.921
AR$161.671
AZ$177.031
CA$185.98–$225.9429
CO$185.981
CT$193.821
DC$204.621
DE$179.821
FL$184.86–$207.433
GA$174.34–$186.612
GU$189.311
HI$189.311
IA$165.401
ID$166.951
IL$181.56–$201.194
IN$167.801
KS$165.841
KY$170.161
LA$170.38–$178.272
MA$185.43–$202.102
MD$182.76–$204.623
ME$169.04–$175.992
MI$175.48–$188.292
MN$174.951
MO$168.40–$177.453
MS$165.001
MT$182.011
NC$170.531
ND$173.701
NE$165.901
NH$184.231
NJ$195.12–$202.902
NM$176.871
NV$179.791
NY$173.06–$216.835
OH$173.781
OK$168.611
OR$177.48–$190.272
PA$173.38–$189.982
PR$182.881
RI$185.061
SC$172.621
SD$172.721
TN$166.791
TX$172.38–$187.218
UT$174.831
VA$176.28–$204.622
VI$182.881
VT$174.141
WA$184.71–$204.892
WI$168.291
WV$175.481
WY$178.391

See 57421 in every payment locality

How the 57421 rate is calculated

Each of 57421’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 · 57421

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.15

2.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.88

2.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.42

0.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.4500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$182.03

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

The exact Houston, TX inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,487

Code
57421
Physician work
2.15
Practice expense
2.88
Malpractice
0.42

GPCI2026.csv

102

Locality
Houston, TX
Physician work
1.008
Practice expense
0.993
Malpractice
1.376
Office calculation for 57421 in Houston, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.15× 1.0082.1672
Practice expense2.88× 0.9932.8598
Malpractice0.42× 1.3760.5779
Total RVUs5.6050
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Houston, TX$187.21

Office: (2.15 × 1.008 + 2.88 × 0.993 + 0.42 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $187.21

Facility: (2.15 × 1.008 + 0.7 × 0.993 + 0.42 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $114.91

Open 57421 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 57421

The CMS indicators that decide how 57421 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 57421

Colposcopy, entire vagina with biopsy

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

57421 without 51 · national office

$182.03

Colposcopy, entire vagina with biopsy

57421-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$91.02

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 57421

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

Codes related to 57421
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Houston, TX
Same family
57420Vaginal colposcopy, without vaginal biopsyEntire-vagina colposcopy without the biopsy included in 57421.$141.27
Used instead
57452Colposcopy, cervix, no tissue samplingCervical colposcopy when examination is focused on the cervix and adjacent upper vagina.$128.77
57455Cervical biopsy, colposcopy-guided biopsyCervical colposcopy with biopsy when the entire-vagina examination is not performed.$165.44
57454Cervical colposcopy, biopsy and endocervical curettageCervical colposcopy with biopsy and endocervical curettage.$171.09

How 57421 has changed in Houston, TX

57421 · Office / nonfacility

$187.21

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $7.73 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $179.48 to $187.21 (4.3%).

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

    $179.48changed to$187.21

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.20 changed to 2.15
    • Practice expense RVU 2.76 changed to 2.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.42
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.003 changed to 0.993
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.376

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $185.57changed to$179.48

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 2.80 changed to 2.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.38 changed to 0.39

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $182.54changed to$185.57

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $186.06changed to$182.54

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 2.78 changed to 2.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.38
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.003
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.409

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $187.40changed to$186.06

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 2.75 changed to 2.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.36
    • Work GPCI 1.032 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.029 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.900 changed to 1.154

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $183.61changed to$187.40

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.61 changed to 2.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.35

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $178.09changed to$183.61

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 2.31 changed to 2.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.34
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.029
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.900

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $168.23changed to$178.09

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.09 changed to 2.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.936 changed to 0.918

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $162.94changed to$168.23

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.95 changed to 2.09

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $162.35changed to$162.94

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.946 changed to 0.936

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $161.77changed to$162.35

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.94 changed to 1.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.33
    • Work GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.009
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.955 changed to 0.946

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $162.71changed to$161.77

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.95 changed to 1.94

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $161.90changed to$162.71

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $161.10changed to$161.90

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.93 changed to 1.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.34
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.019
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.006
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.939 changed to 0.955

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $159.08changed to$161.10

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.11 changed to 1.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.002 changed to 1.004
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.923 changed to 0.939

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $159.08

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$187.21$114.91RVU26D
2026-07-01$187.21$114.91RVU26C
2026-04-01$187.21$114.91RVU26B
2026-01-01$187.21$114.91RVU26A
2025-10-01$179.48$124.97RVU25D
2025-07-01$179.48$124.97RVU25C
2025-04-01$179.48$124.97RVU25B
2025-01-01$179.48$124.97RVU25A
2024-10-01$185.57$127.81RVU24D
2024-07-01$185.57$127.81RVU24C
2024-04-01$185.57$127.81RVU24B
2024-03-09$185.57$127.81RVU24AR
2024-01-01$182.54$125.72RVU24A
2023-10-01$186.06$126.50RVU23D
2023-07-01$186.06$126.50RVU23C
2023-04-01$186.06$126.50RVU23B
2023-01-01$186.06$126.50RVU23A
2022-10-01$187.40$126.15RVU22D
2022-07-01$187.40$126.15RVU22C
2022-04-01$187.40$126.15RVU22B
2022-01-01$187.40$126.15RVU22A
2021-10-01$183.61$126.52RVU21D
2021-07-01$183.61$126.52RVU21C
2021-04-01$183.61$126.52RVU21B
2021-01-01$183.61$126.52RVU21A
2020-10-01$178.09$129.87RVU20D
2020-07-01$178.09$129.87RVU20C
2020-04-01$178.09$129.87RVU20B
2020-01-01$178.09$129.87RVU20A
2019-10-01$168.23$128.11RVU19D
2019-07-01$168.23$128.11RVU19C
2019-04-01$168.23$128.11RVU19B
2019-01-01$168.23$128.11RVU19A
2018-10-01$162.94$128.70RVU18D
2018-07-01$162.94$128.70RVU18C
2018-04-01$162.94$128.70RVU18B
2018-01-01$162.94$128.70RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$162.35$129.04RVU17D
2017-07-01$162.35$129.04RVU17C
2017-04-01$162.35$129.04RVU17B
2017-01-01$162.35$129.04RVU17A
2016-10-01$161.77$128.63RVU16D
2016-07-01$161.77$128.63RVU16C
2016-04-01$161.77$128.63RVU16B
2016-01-01$161.77$128.63RVU16A
2015-10-01$162.71$129.10RVU15D
2015-07-01$162.71$129.10RVU15C
2015-04-01$161.90$128.45RVU15B
2015-01-01$161.90$128.45RVU15A
2014-10-01$161.10$128.73RVU14D
2014-07-01$161.10$128.73RVU14C
2014-04-01$161.10$128.73RVU14B
2014-01-01$161.10$128.73RVU14A
2013-10-01$159.08$124.64RVU13D
2013-07-01$159.08$124.64RVU13C
2013-04-01$159.08$124.64RVU13B
2013-01-01$159.08$124.64RVU13AR

Price 57421 for an earlier date of service

Where the Houston, TX rate applies

Houston, TX is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 46 cities and communities in Texas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Texas

57421 billing questions

When should 57421 be selected instead of 57420?

Use 57421 when colposcopic examination of the entire vagina includes biopsy. Code 57420 describes the corresponding examination without biopsy.

Can the biopsy be reported separately from the colposcopy?

The biopsy is included in 57421 when performed as part of the colposcopic service. Document the sampled site and the reason for biopsy.

How does 57421 differ from 57455?

57421 covers examination of the entire vagina, with the cervix if present, and biopsy. 57455 is for cervical colposcopy with biopsy, rather than the entire-vagina examination.

Should modifier 50 be appended for biopsy on both sides?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed with 57421?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. 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 57421PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,487 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Houston, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 102 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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