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CPT code 78018: Thyroid metastasis scan, whole body with additional imaging2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Utah

Reports whole-body nuclear imaging with additional views to evaluate iodine-avid metastatic thyroid carcinoma, such as during staging or follow-up after thyroid cancer treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality4K Medicare services in 2024

In Utah, Medicare pays $260.58 for 78018 in the office.

$260.58Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
−5.4%vs the national office rate ($275.56)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 78018 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 78018 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Utah
  2. What 78018 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 78018 covers

This nuclear medicine study evaluates possible metastatic thyroid carcinoma throughout the body and includes imaging beyond the whole-body acquisition. It is commonly performed in nuclear medicine departments for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, including after thyroidectomy when a clinician is assessing for iodine-avid disease. A nuclear medicine technologist acquires the images, and a qualified physician interprets them.

Report 78018 when the documented examination includes whole-body imaging and additional imaging; use the documented extent and acquisitions to distinguish it from limited-area or whole-body-only studies. The record should support the thyroid cancer indication, the imaging performed, and the physician’s interpretation. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for equipment and staff, or no component modifier for the global service.

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 Utah compares for 78018

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 78018 runs from $239.63 in Arkansas to $385.32 in San Benito County, CA. Utah pays $260.58. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

78018 in Utah vs other payment areas
  1. Utah · this page$260.58
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$320.44+$59.86
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$320.93+$60.35
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$290.18+$29.60
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$280.87+$20.29
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$318.72+$58.14
  7. Alaska · Alaska$304.13+$43.55

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

Every other payment area

78018 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$243.69—
ArkansasArkansas$239.63—
ArizonaArizona$267.55—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$298.39—
Chico, CACalifornia$298.11—
El Centro, CACalifornia$298.13—
Fresno, CACalifornia$298.11—
Hanford, CACalifornia$298.11—

78018 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.

$239.63

$341.72

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

View every state and territory as a table
78018 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$304.131
AL$243.691
AR$239.631
AZ$267.551
CA$298.11–$385.3229
CO$290.881
CT$295.581
DC$320.931
DE$272.461
FL$266.31–$290.183
GA$249.73–$280.162
GU$307.791
HI$307.791
IA$252.961
ID$254.411
IL$255.98–$284.684
IN$256.161
KS$250.591
KY$248.161
LA$247.31–$261.542
MA$288.35–$323.812
MD$278.53–$320.933
ME$254.86–$272.252
MI$254.67–$269.062
MN$280.531
MO$241.74–$263.833
MS$240.791
MT$275.551
NC$258.091
ND$273.771
NE$254.861
NH$285.211
NJ$299.46–$316.652
NM$255.871
NV$275.301
NY$262.44–$326.145
OH$254.311
OK$248.731
OR$273.69–$302.382
PA$255.34–$286.672
PR$278.201
RI$283.831
SC$256.521
SD$273.561
TN$251.921
TX$253.34–$289.458
UT$260.581
VA$270.52–$320.932
VI$278.201
VT$271.631
WA$288.16–$331.912
WI$263.211
WV$244.821
WY$274.781

See 78018 in every payment locality

How the 78018 rate is calculated

Each of 78018’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 · 78018

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.84

0.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.32

7.32 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.09

0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.2500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$275.56

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

The exact Utah inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,194

Code
78018
Physician work
0.84
Practice expense
7.32
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

104

Locality
Utah
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.940
Malpractice
0.898
Office calculation for 78018 in Utah
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.84× 1.0000.8400
Practice expense7.32× 0.9406.8808
Malpractice0.09× 0.8980.0808
Total RVUs7.8016
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Utah$260.58

Office: (0.84 × 1 + 7.32 × 0.94 + 0.09 × 0.898) × $33.4009 = $260.58

Open 78018 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 78018

The CMS indicators that decide how 78018 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78018

Thyroid metastasis scan, whole body with additional imaging

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

78018 without 26 · national office

$275.56

Thyroid metastasis scan, whole body with additional imaging

78018-26 · Professional component

$38.08

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 78018

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

Codes related to 78018
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Utah
Same family
78015Thyroid metastasis imaging, limited anatomic areaThyroid carcinoma metastasis imaging limited to an area rather than the whole body.$193.03
78016Thyroid metastasis imaging, whole bodyWhole-body thyroid carcinoma metastasis imaging without the additional imaging distinction.$237.92
78020Thyroid uptake, whole-body metastasis measurementRelated thyroid carcinoma metastasis service focused on uptake rather than whole-body imaging.$75.54
Used instead
78014Thyroid scan, quantitative uptake measurementThyroid imaging with uptake for thyroid evaluation, rather than metastatic disease imaging.$199.00
78012Thyroid uptake, uptake measurement onlyMeasures thyroid uptake without reporting the whole-body metastasis imaging service.$75.68

How 78018 has changed in Utah

78018 · Office / nonfacility

$260.58

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $5.82 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $254.76 to $260.58 (2.3%).

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

    $254.76changed to$260.58

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.86 changed to 0.84
    • Practice expense RVU 7.45 changed to 7.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.933 changed to 0.940
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.898

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $266.52changed to$254.76

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.58 changed to 7.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $262.17changed to$266.52

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $274.99changed to$262.17

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.76 changed to 7.58
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.865 changed to 0.930

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $284.45changed to$274.99

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.93 changed to 7.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.919 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.799 changed to 0.865

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $298.03changed to$284.45

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 8.28 changed to 7.93

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $301.02changed to$298.03

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.02 changed to 8.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.923 changed to 0.919
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.982 changed to 0.799

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $304.63changed to$301.02

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.09 changed to 8.02
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.923
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.165 changed to 0.982

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $308.96changed to$304.63

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.23 changed to 8.09

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $307.09changed to$308.96

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.22 changed to 8.23
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.925 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.167 changed to 1.165

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $303.84changed to$307.09

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.17 changed to 8.22
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.922 changed to 0.925
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.167

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $302.44changed to$303.84

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.12 changed to 8.17
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $300.94changed to$302.44

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $296.70changed to$300.94

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.99 changed to 8.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.919 changed to 0.922
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.136 changed to 1.169

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $298.03changed to$296.70

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 8.54 changed to 7.99
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.916 changed to 0.919
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.102 changed to 1.136

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $298.03

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$260.58Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$260.58Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$260.58Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$260.58Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$254.76Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$254.76Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$254.76Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$254.76Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$266.52Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$266.52Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$266.52Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$266.52Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$262.17Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$274.99Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$274.99Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$274.99Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$274.99Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$284.45Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$284.45Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$284.45Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$284.45Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$298.03Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$298.03Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$298.03Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$298.03Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$301.02Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$301.02Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$301.02Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$301.02Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$304.63Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$304.63Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$304.63Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$304.63Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$308.96Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$308.96Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$308.96Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$308.96Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$307.09Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$307.09Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$307.09Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$307.09Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$303.84Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$303.84Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$303.84Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$303.84Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$302.44Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$302.44Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$300.94Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$300.94Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$296.70Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$296.70Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$296.70Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$296.70Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$298.03Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$298.03Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$298.03Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$298.03Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 78018 for an earlier date of service

Where the Utah rate applies

Utah is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 334 cities and communities in Utah. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Alpine
  • Alta
  • Altamont
  • Alton
  • Amalga
  • American Fork
  • Aneth
  • Annabella

Browse all communities in Utah

78018 billing questions

How does 78018 differ from 78016?

78018 describes whole-body imaging with additional imaging. 78016 is the whole-body metastasis imaging option without that additional imaging distinction.

When should 78015 be used instead?

Use 78015 for thyroid carcinoma metastasis imaging limited to an area rather than a whole-body examination.

Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?

Yes. Report modifier 26 for the physician’s interpretation or modifier TC for the technical service; without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What documentation supports 78018?

Document the thyroid carcinoma indication, the whole-body acquisition, the additional imaging performed, and the interpreting physician’s findings.

Is 78018 the right code for uptake measurement alone?

No. 78018 reports metastasis imaging with whole-body and additional imaging; 78020 is the related uptake-only option.

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 78018PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,194 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for UtahGPCI2026.csv, line 104 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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