CPT code 78111: Plasma volume, multiple sampling2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $96.86 for 78111 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $83.62–$135.83.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 78111 covers

This study measures circulating plasma volume through tracer administration followed by collection and analysis of multiple blood samples. It may be used when a clinician needs to assess plasma-volume expansion or depletion, including in the evaluation of an apparent red-cell concentration abnormality. Nuclear medicine staff typically perform the technical work in a hospital setting, while a qualified physician interprets the study and reports the findings.

Choose this code when the plasma-volume study uses multiple samples; the single-sampling service is a different code. Documentation should identify the clinical reason for the study, the sampling approach, and the interpretation. Medicare recognizes separate professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for the equipment and staff, or neither modifier for the global service. Medicare’s 2024 claims data show facility services for this code and no office services.

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.

Where 78111 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

78111 rates by state

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

How the 78111 rate is calculated

Each of 78111’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 78111

The CMS indicators that decide how 78111 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

78111 compared with similar codes

How to choose

78110Plasma volumeSingle sample

78110 is the plasma-volume study when a single sample is used. Choose 78111 for a multiple-sample approach.

78121Red cell massMultiple determinations

78121 measures red-cell mass using multiple sampling; 78111 measures plasma volume. The measured blood component determines the code.

78122Blood volume testWhole blood determination

78122 is for determining whole blood volume. Use 78111 when the measured quantity is plasma volume alone.

Codes related to 78111

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates