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CPT code 78815: PET/CT imaging, skull base to mid-thigh2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports PET imaging combined with CT from the skull base through the mid-thigh, commonly for cancer evaluation when this scan extent is performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities831K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 78815

PET/CT 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 78815 →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 78815 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 78815 covers

This service combines positron emission tomography (PET) with CT covering the skull base through the mid-thigh. PET shows the distribution of a radioactive tracer, while CT provides attenuation correction and anatomic localization. Nuclear medicine and radiology physicians interpret the study; imaging centers and hospital departments commonly provide the technical service. It is often used in oncology evaluation, including staging or assessing suspected disease, when this scan extent is performed.

Medicare assigns this CPT code physician fee schedule status C, or carrier priced: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The code has a professional interpretation portion, reported with modifier 26, and a technical portion for equipment and staff, reported with modifier TC. Without either modifier, it represents the global service. Code 78815 identifies PET performed with CT for attenuation correction and anatomic localization over this extent.

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 78815 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

78815 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

78815 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
78815 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 78815 rate is calculated

Each of 78815’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 · 78815

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 78815

The CMS indicators that decide how 78815 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78815

PET/CT 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

78815 without 26 · national facility

$0.00

PET/CT imaging, skull base to mid-thigh

78815-26 · Professional component

$109.55

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

78815 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 78815

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

    Not priced

  • 78812

    PET imaging, skull base to mid-thigh0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 78814

    PET with CT, limited area0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 78816

    PET/CT imaging, whole body0 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

78812PET imagingSkull base to mid-thigh
Select 78812 for PET imaging from the skull base through the mid-thigh without CT. Select this code when CT is included in the combined study.
78814PET with CTLimited area
78814 is PET with CT over a limited area. This code covers the skull-base-to-mid-thigh extent.
78816PET/CT imagingWhole body
78816 is PET with CT over the full body. This code covers the skull base through the mid-thigh.

Codes related to 78815

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

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

78815 billing questions

How is this different from 78812?

Both cover PET imaging from the skull base through the mid-thigh. Use 78815 when the study includes CT; 78812 describes PET imaging without the CT component.

When would 78814 be used instead?

78814 describes PET imaging with CT over a limited area. This code describes the skull-base-to-mid-thigh extent.

When is 78816 a better match?

78816 describes PET imaging with CT over the full body. This code is for the skull-base-to-mid-thigh extent.

How do modifiers 26 and TC apply?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Report the code without either modifier for the global service.

What service does 78815 represent?

It identifies PET performed with CT for attenuation correction and anatomic localization from the skull base through the mid-thigh.

How does Medicare price this code?

Its physician fee schedule status is C, or carrier priced. CMS publishes no national payment; the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim.

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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