CPT code 78282: Protein-loss imaging, gastrointestinal tract2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 78282 in California.

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

What 78282 covers

This nuclear medicine imaging study evaluates gastrointestinal protein loss, including suspected protein-losing enteropathy. It may be considered when findings such as unexplained hypoalbuminemia raise concern that protein is being lost through the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical question is whether protein loss originates in the gastrointestinal tract, rather than whether acute bleeding or another intestinal finding is present.

Medicare assigns 78282 carrier-priced status C: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The service has professional and technical components: modifier 26 reports the interpretation, and modifier TC reports equipment and staff. Reporting 78282 without either modifier represents 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.

Where 78282 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 of 29 payment localities

How the 78282 rate is calculated

Each of 78282’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 78282

The CMS indicators that decide how 78282 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

78282 compared with similar codes

How to choose

78278GI bleeding scanAcute blood loss

Code 78278 is for imaging directed at acute gastrointestinal blood loss. Use 78282 when the diagnostic question is gastrointestinal protein loss.

78290Intestinal imagingEctopic gastric mucosa

Code 78290 describes intestine imaging. Use 78282 when the study evaluates gastrointestinal protein loss.

78299GI nuclear medicineUnlisted procedure

Code 78299 is an unlisted gastrointestinal diagnostic nuclear medicine code. Consider it when no more specific listed code describes the procedure 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