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CPT code 78016: Thyroid metastasis imaging, whole body2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Los Angeles, CA

Reports whole-body nuclear imaging to evaluate thyroid carcinoma for metastatic disease, such as iodine-avid spread beyond the thyroid bed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality16 Medicare services in 2024

In Los Angeles, CA, Medicare pays $292.53 for 78016 in the office.

$292.53Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
+16.3%vs the national office rate ($251.51)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 78016 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 78016 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Los Angeles, CA
  2. What 78016 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 78016 covers

This study images the body for metastatic thyroid carcinoma after administration of a thyroid-seeking radiopharmaceutical. It is commonly used in the evaluation or follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer, including searches for iodine-avid disease outside the thyroid bed. Nuclear medicine staff perform the imaging, and a nuclear medicine physician or radiologist interprets the findings. The whole-body extent distinguishes this service from limited-area thyroid cancer metastasis imaging.

Report 78016 when the documented study covers the whole body for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. The record should identify the clinical indication and support the extent and interpretation of the imaging performed. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment-and-staff service, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. The professional and technical portions may be billed separately by the respective providers when applicable.

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 Los Angeles, CA compares for 78016

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 78016 runs from $219.01 in Arkansas to $351.69 in San Benito County, CA. Los Angeles, CA pays $292.53. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

78016 in Los Angeles, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Los Angeles, CA · this page$292.53
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$272.46−$20.07
  3. Chico, CA · California$272.23−$20.30
  4. El Centro, CA · California$272.25−$20.28
  5. Fresno, CA · California$272.23−$20.30
  6. Hanford, CA · California$272.23−$20.30
  7. Madera, CA · California$272.23−$20.30

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

Every other payment area

78016 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Merced, CACalifornia$272.23—
Modesto, CACalifornia$272.23—
Napa, CACalifornia$322.78—
Oxnard, CACalifornia$291.86—
Redding, CACalifornia$272.23—
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$272.23—
Riverside, CACalifornia$273.00—
Sacramento, CACalifornia$287.65—

78016 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.

$219.01

$311.96

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

View every state and territory as a table
78016 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$278.281
AL$222.691
AR$219.011
AZ$244.281
CA$272.23–$351.6929
CO$265.551
CT$269.661
DC$292.811
DE$248.741
FL$242.90–$264.203
GA$227.93–$255.622
GU$281.001
HI$281.001
IA$231.191
ID$232.481
IL$233.47–$259.514
IN$234.071
KS$228.991
KY$226.621
LA$225.83–$238.702
MA$263.25–$295.502
MD$254.25–$292.813
ME$232.83–$248.642
MI$232.46–$245.332
MN$256.311
MO$220.75–$240.843
MS$219.981
MT$251.501
NC$235.761
ND$250.121
NE$232.931
NH$260.341
NJ$273.27–$288.942
NM$233.521
NV$251.341
NY$239.69–$297.275
OH$232.171
OK$227.191
OR$249.92–$276.032
PA$233.14–$261.562
PR$253.921
RI$259.101
SC$234.251
SD$249.961
TN$230.181
TX$231.32–$264.208
UT$237.921
VA$247.04–$292.812
VI$253.921
VT$248.131
WA$263.09–$302.912
WI$240.551
WV$223.381
WY$250.901

See 78016 in every payment locality

How the 78016 rate is calculated

Each of 78016’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 · 78016

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.80

0.80 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.66

6.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

7.5300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$251.51

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

The exact Los Angeles, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,191

Code
78016
Physician work
0.80
Practice expense
6.66
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

13

Locality
Los Angeles, CA
Physician work
1.041
Practice expense
1.183
Malpractice
0.664
Office calculation for 78016 in Los Angeles, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.80× 1.0410.8328
Practice expense6.66× 1.1837.8788
Malpractice0.07× 0.6640.0465
Total RVUs8.7581
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Los Angeles, CA$292.53

Office: (0.8 × 1.041 + 6.66 × 1.183 + 0.07 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $292.53

Open 78016 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 78016

The CMS indicators that decide how 78016 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78016

Thyroid metastasis imaging, whole body

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
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/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

78016 without 26 · national office

$251.51

Thyroid metastasis imaging, whole body

78016-26 · Professional component

$32.06

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 78016

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

Codes related to 78016
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Los Angeles, CA
Same family
78015Thyroid metastasis imaging, limited anatomic areaThyroid carcinoma metastasis imaging limited to an area rather than the whole body.$236.96
78018Thyroid metastasis scan, whole body with additional imagingRelated whole-body thyroid carcinoma metastasis imaging with additional views.$320.44
Used instead
78020Thyroid uptake, whole-body metastasis measurementQuantitative thyroid carcinoma metastasis uptake assessment rather than whole-body imaging.$90.15
78012Thyroid uptake, uptake measurement onlyMeasures thyroid uptake rather than imaging the body for metastases.$93.24

How 78016 has changed in Los Angeles, CA

78016 · Office / nonfacility

$292.53

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $10.19 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $282.34 to $292.53 (3.6%).

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

    $282.34changed to$292.53

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.82 changed to 0.80
    • Practice expense RVU 6.56 changed to 6.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.041
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.183
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.690 changed to 0.664

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $295.95changed to$282.34

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 6.69 changed to 6.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $291.12changed to$295.95

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $305.42changed to$291.12

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 6.84 changed to 6.69
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.185 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.724 changed to 0.690

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $320.83changed to$305.42

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.12 changed to 6.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.175 changed to 1.185
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.724

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $337.02changed to$320.83

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.45 changed to 7.12

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $338.13changed to$337.02

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.20 changed to 7.45
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.048
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.176 changed to 1.175
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.725 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $339.69changed to$338.13

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.25 changed to 7.20
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.177 changed to 1.176
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.694 changed to 0.725

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $345.25changed to$339.69

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.39 changed to 7.25

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $344.39changed to$345.25

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.44 changed to 7.39
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.046
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.177
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.801 changed to 0.694

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $334.15changed to$344.39

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 7.26 changed to 7.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.161 changed to 1.169
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.801

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $338.70changed to$334.15

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 7.34 changed to 7.26

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $337.01changed to$338.70

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $327.63changed to$337.01

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.12 changed to 7.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.158 changed to 1.161
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.775 changed to 0.908

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $329.39changed to$327.63

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.62 changed to 7.12
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.158
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.642 changed to 0.775

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$329.39

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$292.53Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$292.53Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$292.53Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$292.53Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$282.34Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$282.34Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$282.34Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$282.34Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$295.95Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$295.95Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$295.95Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$295.95Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$291.12Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$305.42Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$305.42Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$305.42Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$305.42Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$320.83Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$320.83Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$320.83Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$320.83Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$337.02Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$337.02Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$337.02Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$337.02Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$338.13Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$338.13Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$338.13Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$338.13Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$339.69Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$339.69Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$339.69Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$339.69Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$345.25Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$345.25Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$345.25Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$345.25Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$344.39Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$344.39Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$344.39Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$344.39Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$334.15Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$334.15Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$334.15Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$334.15Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$338.70Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$338.70Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$337.01Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$337.01Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$327.63Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$327.63Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$327.63Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$327.63Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$329.39Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 78016 for an earlier date of service

Where the Los Angeles, CA rate applies

Los Angeles, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 189 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Anaheim
  • Long Beach
  • Los Angeles
  • Orange
  • Acton
  • Agoura Hills
  • Agua Dulce
  • Alhambra

Browse all communities in California

78016 billing questions

How does 78016 differ from 78015?

78016 is for whole-body imaging to evaluate thyroid carcinoma metastases. 78015 is used when the metastasis imaging is limited to an area.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What documentation supports 78016?

Document the thyroid carcinoma indication, the whole-body imaging performed, and the interpreting clinician’s findings. The record should support that the study evaluated metastatic disease.

Is 78016 the same as thyroid uptake measurement?

No. 78016 describes whole-body imaging for thyroid carcinoma metastases; 78012 is for thyroid uptake measurement. Select the code for the service actually performed.

How does 78016 differ from 78018?

Both are in the thyroid carcinoma metastasis imaging family. 78018 describes whole-body imaging with additional views, while 78016 represents whole-body imaging.

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 78016PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,191 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Los Angeles, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 13 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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