CPT code 78016: Thyroid metastasis imaging, whole body2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Mississippi

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 Mississippi, Medicare pays $219.98 for 78016 in the office.

$219.98Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
−12.5%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 Mississippi
  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 Mississippi 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. Mississippi pays $219.98. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

78016 in Mississippi vs other payment areas
  1. Mississippi · this page$219.98
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$292.53+$72.55
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$292.81+$72.83
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$264.20+$44.22
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$255.84+$35.86
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$290.63+$70.65
  7. Alaska · Alaska$278.28+$58.30

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

Every other payment area

78016 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$222.69—
ArkansasArkansas$219.01—
ArizonaArizona$244.28—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$272.46—
Chico, CACalifornia$272.23—
El Centro, CACalifornia$272.25—
Fresno, CACalifornia$272.23—
Hanford, CACalifornia$272.23—

78016 rates by state

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

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 Mississippi 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

67

Locality
Mississippi
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.861
Malpractice
0.739
Office calculation for 78016 in Mississippi
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.80× 1.0000.8000
Practice expense6.66× 0.8615.7343
Malpractice0.07× 0.7390.0517
Total RVUs6.5860
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Mississippi$219.98

Office: (0.8 × 1 + 6.66 × 0.861 + 0.07 × 0.739) × $33.4009 = $219.98

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

How 78016 has changed in Mississippi

78016 · Office / nonfacility

$219.98

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $11.18 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $208.80 to $219.98 (5.4%).

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

    $208.80changed to$219.98

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.852 changed to 0.861
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.739

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $218.82changed to$208.80

    • 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

    $215.25changed to$218.82

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $225.82changed to$215.25

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 6.84 changed to 6.69
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.847 changed to 0.852
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.720 changed to 0.768
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $237.24changed to$225.82

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.842 changed to 0.847
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.671 changed to 0.720

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $248.90changed to$237.24

    • 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

    $253.15changed to$248.90

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.20 changed to 7.45
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.856 changed to 0.842
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.521 changed to 0.671

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $257.54changed to$253.15

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.870 changed to 0.856
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.370 changed to 0.521

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $261.64changed to$257.54

    • 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

    $261.81changed to$261.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.44 changed to 7.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.867 changed to 0.870
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.370

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $255.04changed to$261.81

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 7.26 changed to 7.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.864 changed to 0.867
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.613 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $258.45changed to$255.04

    • 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

    $257.16changed to$258.45

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $251.48changed to$257.16

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.865 changed to 0.864
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.687 changed to 0.613

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $253.97changed to$251.48

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.62 changed to 7.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.866 changed to 0.865
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.761 changed to 0.687

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $253.97

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$219.98Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$219.98Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$219.98Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$219.98Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$208.80Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$208.80Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$208.80Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$208.80Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$218.82Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$218.82Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$218.82Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$218.82Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$215.25Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$225.82Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$225.82Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$225.82Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$225.82Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$237.24Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$237.24Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$237.24Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$237.24Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$248.90Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$248.90Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$248.90Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$248.90Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$253.15Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$253.15Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$253.15Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$253.15Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$257.54Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$257.54Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$257.54Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$257.54Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$261.64Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$261.64Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$261.64Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$261.64Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$261.81Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$261.81Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$261.81Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$261.81Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$255.04Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$255.04Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$255.04Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$255.04Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$258.45Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$258.45Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$257.16Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$257.16Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$251.48Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$251.48Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$251.48Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$251.48Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$253.97Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$253.97Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$253.97Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$253.97Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 78016 for an earlier date of service

Where the Mississippi rate applies

Mississippi is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 427 cities and communities in Mississippi. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Aberdeen
  • Ackerman
  • Agricola
  • Alcorn State University
  • Algoma
  • Alligator
  • Amory

Browse all communities in Mississippi

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 MississippiGPCI2026.csv, line 67 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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