CPT code 78191: Platelet study, platelet survival2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports a study that measures platelet survival over time to investigate shortened platelet lifespan or suspected platelet destruction and sequestration.
Medicare pays $136.24–$174.36 for 78191 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 78191 covers
This diagnostic study evaluates how long platelets remain in circulation and may help investigate thrombocytopenia when shortened survival or sequestration is suspected. It involves studying the patient’s platelets over time; nuclear medicine and laboratory personnel may perform the technical work, while a physician interprets the findings. The study is distinct from imaging the spleen alone and from tests that track red blood cells.
Report 78191 for the platelet-survival study as a whole, supported by the order, records of the study performed, and the physician’s interpretation. CMS recognizes a professional component for interpretation and a technical component for equipment and staff. Bill the professional work with modifier 26, the technical work with modifier TC, or the global service without either modifier when one entity provides both components. The documentation should identify the clinical question and support the component billed.
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 78191 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$136.24 to $174.36
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $136.45 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $136.25 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $146.14 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $170.53 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $160.37 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $145.68 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $137.00 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $143.64 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $143.13 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $174.36 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $147.00 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $170.45 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $140.75 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $174.04 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $148.80 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $143.80 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $150.34 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $160.25 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $136.24 | Unavailable |
How the 78191 rate is calculated
Each of 78191’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 · 78191
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.59
0.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.14
3.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.07
0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.8000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$126.92
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78191
The CMS indicators that decide how 78191 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78191
Platelet study, platelet survival
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
78191 without 26 · national office
$126.92
Platelet study, platelet survival
78191-26 · Professional component
$23.71
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78191 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 78130Red-cell survivalErythrocyte lifespan
- Choose 78191 for platelet survival and 78130 for red-cell survival; the tracked blood-cell type distinguishes the studies.
- 78140Red-cell studySplenic sequestration
- 78191 evaluates platelet survival, while 78140 evaluates red-cell sequestration.
- 78185Spleen imagingRadionuclide study
- 78191 studies platelet survival over time. 78185 reports spleen imaging, not platelet-survival measurement.
78191 billing questions
How is 78191 different from a red-cell survival study?
78191 evaluates platelet survival. Use 78130 when the study tracks red-cell survival instead.
When should modifier 26 or TC be reported?
Use modifier 26 for the physician’s interpretation and modifier TC for the technical component. Report the global service without either modifier when both components are billed together.
What documentation supports the professional component?
The record should include the clinical question and the physician’s interpretation of the platelet-survival findings.
Does the technical component include the interpretation?
No. CMS identifies equipment and staff as the technical component; physician interpretation is the professional component.
Is this the code for spleen imaging?
No. 78191 evaluates platelet survival. 78185 is the spleen-imaging code when the service performed is imaging the spleen.
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
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