CPT code 81479: Molecular pathology, unlisted procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Jersey
Use 81479 to report a molecular pathology procedure when no specific code describes the assay performed, subject to Medicare's status X payment treatment.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 81479 in New Jersey.
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 81479 covers
81479 identifies an unlisted molecular pathology procedure: a molecular pathology service for which no more specific procedure code describes the work. A molecular diagnostic or clinical laboratory may report it when the service does not fit a defined molecular pathology code. Selection depends on the procedure performed, not simply on the fact that a test concerns genetic material or was ordered for an inherited or cancer-related condition. Specific codes describe services such as mitochondrial gene analysis, whole mitochondrial genome analysis, and genomic profiling.
Medicare assigns status X, meaning the service is not paid under the physician fee schedule because it is not a physician service under the Medicare statute. When covered, payment is made under another fee schedule or payment system. Use a specific molecular pathology code when the performed service meets that code's definition rather than reporting 81479. The unlisted code does not identify a particular assay or gene-count tier.
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 81479 pays more and less in New Jersey
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Northern New Jersey | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of New Jersey | Unavailable | Unavailable |
How the 81479 rate is calculated
Each of 81479’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 · 81479
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
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 81479
81479 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.
Place of service · 81479
Which rate does Medicare pay?
The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).
POS 11 · non-facility rate · national
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81479 isn’t priced in this setting.
81479 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 81460Mitochondrial genomeComplete genome with heteroplasmy
- 81460 describes whole mitochondrial genome analysis. Use 81479 only when no specific code describes the procedure performed.
- 81440Mitochondrial gene panelAt least 100 nuclear genes
- 81440 describes mitochondrial gene analysis. 81479 is for a molecular pathology procedure without a specific code that fits.
- 81445Tumor gene panel5–50 genes, DNA or DNA/RNA
- 81445 describes qualifying solid tumor genomic profiling of 5–50 genes. Use 81479 only when the procedure does not meet a specific code's definition.
- 81455Tumor genomic panel51+ genes, DNA or DNA/RNA
- 81455 describes qualifying solid or hematologic neoplasm genomic profiling of 51 or more genes. Use 81479 when no specific code describes the procedure.
81479 billing questions
When should a laboratory report 81479 instead of a specific molecular pathology code?
Report 81479 when no specific molecular pathology code describes the procedure performed. Use a specific code when the service meets its definition.
How does 81479 differ from 81460?
81460 describes whole mitochondrial genome analysis. Use 81479 only when no specific code, including 81460, describes the procedure.
How does 81479 differ from genomic profiling codes such as 81445 and 81455?
81445 and 81455 describe specific genomic profiling services with defined gene-count tiers. Use 81479 when the performed molecular pathology service does not fit a specific code.
Does Medicare pay 81479 under the physician fee schedule?
No. Status X means Medicare does not pay it under the physician fee schedule; when covered, payment is under another fee schedule or payment system.
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
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