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CPT code 78812: PET imaging, skull base to mid-thigh2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

PET imaging from the skull base through the mid-thigh is reported for metabolic evaluation when that scan range is performed without concurrently acquired CT.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities6.5K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 78812

PET imaging, skull base to mid-thigh

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 78812 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 78812 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 78812 covers

This service captures positron emission tomography images from the skull base through the mid-thigh to show the distribution of a radiotracer. Nuclear medicine and radiology teams commonly perform the study for cancer evaluation, including staging or assessment of disease extent. This code describes PET imaging without concurrently acquired CT for attenuation correction and anatomic localization; a PET/CT study covering the same range is represented by a different code.

Medicare assigns this CPT code carrier-priced status C: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The study has professional and technical components. Report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for the equipment and staff, or no modifier when billing 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 78812 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

78812 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

78812 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.

View every state and territory as a table
78812 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 78812 rate is calculated

Each of 78812’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 · 78812

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 78812

The CMS indicators that decide how 78812 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78812

PET imaging, skull base to mid-thigh

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

78812 without 26 · national facility

$0.00

PET imaging, skull base to mid-thigh

78812-26 · Professional component

$86.51

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

78812 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 78812

    PET imaging, skull base to mid-thigh0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 78811

    PET imaging, limited area0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 78813

    Whole-body PET, without CT0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 78815

    PET/CT imaging, skull base to mid-thigh0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 78814

    PET with CT, limited area0 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

78811PET imagingLimited area
Choose 78811 for PET imaging of a limited area. Choose 78812 when the scan extends from the skull base through the mid-thigh.
78813Whole-body PETWithout CT
78813 describes whole-body PET imaging; 78812 describes PET imaging from the skull base through the mid-thigh.
78815PET/CT imagingSkull base to mid-thigh
Both cover the skull-base-to-mid-thigh range, but 78815 describes PET with concurrently acquired CT for attenuation correction and anatomic localization.
78814PET with CTLimited area
78814 describes limited-area PET/CT. 78812 describes PET over the skull-base-to-mid-thigh range without concurrently acquired CT.

Codes related to 78812

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

Codes related to 78812
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
78811PET imaging, limited areaPET imaging of a limited area rather than the skull-base-to-mid-thigh range.No office rate
78813Whole-body PET, without CTPET imaging for a whole-body scan range.No office rate
Used instead
78815PET/CT imaging, skull base to mid-thighPET/CT imaging over the same skull-base-to-mid-thigh range.No office rate
78814PET with CT, limited areaPET/CT imaging of a limited area.No office rate
78816PET/CT imaging, whole bodyPET/CT imaging for a whole-body scan range.No office rate

78812 billing questions

How does 78812 differ from 78811?

78812 describes PET imaging from the skull base through the mid-thigh. 78811 is for PET imaging of a limited area, such as the chest or head and neck.

When should 78815 be considered instead?

Use 78815 for PET imaging from the skull base through the mid-thigh when CT is concurrently acquired for attenuation correction and anatomic localization.

Which modifier identifies the professional interpretation?

Append modifier 26 for the professional component. Modifier TC identifies the technical component; billing without either modifier represents the global service.

How does Medicare price 78812?

It has carrier-priced status C. CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim.

Does 78812 describe whole-body PET imaging?

No. It describes imaging from the skull base through the mid-thigh; 78813 is the related whole-body PET imaging code.

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

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