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CPT code 88120: Urine FISH, three to five probes2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Houston, TX

Reports FISH analysis of a urinary tract specimen using three to five molecular probes, commonly to assess for urothelial carcinoma-associated chromosomal changes.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality55K Medicare services in 2024

In Houston, TX, Medicare pays $539.53 for 88120 in the office.

$539.53Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
−0.5%vs the national office rate ($542.10)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 88120 nationwide

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

We’ll open 88120 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Houston, TX
  2. What 88120 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 88120 covers

This service uses fluorescent in situ hybridization to assess cells in a urinary tract specimen for chromosomal changes associated with urothelial carcinoma. It is commonly used in the evaluation or surveillance of patients with a history of bladder cancer, including when urine testing is used to look for evidence of recurrent disease. Laboratory personnel prepare and process the specimen; a pathologist interprets the findings. The code represents analysis with three to five probes for each specimen, rather than conventional microscopic urine cytology.

Report one unit for each specimen analyzed under the three-to-five-probe method. Documentation should identify the specimen, the FISH analysis performed, the probes or probe set used, and the interpreted result. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff work. Report without either modifier when billing the global service, which includes both components.

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.

How Houston, TX compares for 88120

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 88120 runs from $470.60 in Arkansas to $767.22 in San Benito County, CA. Houston, TX pays $539.53. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

88120 in Houston, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Houston, TX · this page$539.53
  2. Austin, TX · Texas$571.06+$31.53
  3. Beaumont, TX · Texas$496.86−$42.67
  4. Brazoria, TX · Texas$537.53−$2.00
  5. Dallas, TX · Texas$540.21+$0.68
  6. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$535.21−$4.32
  7. Galveston, TX · Texas$538.61−$0.92

Other areas in Texas first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

88120 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$516.37—
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$634.88—
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$633.64—
Miami, FLFlorida$565.21—
Chicago, ILIllinois$547.04—
Manhattan, NYNew York$626.79—
AlaskaAlaska$593.47—
AlabamaAlabama$478.70—

88120 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.

$470.60

$678.67

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
88120 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$593.471
AL$478.701
AR$470.601
AZ$526.311
CA$590.12–$767.2229
CO$574.291
CT$581.831
DC$633.641
DE$536.111
FL$520.88–$565.213
GA$488.27–$550.572
GU$610.081
HI$610.081
IA$498.481
ID$501.111
IL$499.42–$557.204
IN$504.641
KS$493.141
KY$486.311
LA$484.37–$512.742
MA$568.95–$640.782
MD$548.37–$633.643
ME$501.36–$536.972
MI$498.69–$525.702
MN$555.461
MO$472.87–$518.043
MS$471.971
MT$542.091
NC$507.901
ND$541.101
NE$502.451
NH$562.441
NJ$589.95–$624.892
NM$500.821
NV$542.321
NY$516.53–$640.785
OH$498.491
OK$488.081
OR$539.60–$597.942
PA$500.89–$563.682
PR$547.591
RI$559.201
SC$503.741
SD$540.991
TN$495.701
TX$496.86–$571.068
UT$511.851
VA$533.08–$633.642
VI$547.591
VT$536.261
WA$568.78–$657.552
WI$519.881
WV$477.141
WY$541.661

See 88120 in every payment locality

How the 88120 rate is calculated

Each of 88120’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 · 88120

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.17

1.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense15.01

15.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.05

0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

16.2300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$542.10

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

The exact Houston, TX inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

11,115

Code
88120
Physician work
1.17
Practice expense
15.01
Malpractice
0.05

GPCI2026.csv

102

Locality
Houston, TX
Physician work
1.008
Practice expense
0.993
Malpractice
1.376
Office calculation for 88120 in Houston, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.17× 1.0081.1794
Practice expense15.01× 0.99314.9049
Malpractice0.05× 1.3760.0688
Total RVUs16.1531
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Houston, TX$539.53

Office: (1.17 × 1.008 + 15.01 × 0.993 + 0.05 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $539.53

Open 88120 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 88120

The CMS indicators that decide how 88120 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 88120

Urine FISH, three to five probes

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

88120 without 26 · national office

$542.10

Urine FISH, three to five probes

88120-26 · Professional component

$54.44

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 88120

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

Codes related to 88120
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Houston, TX
Same family
88121Urine FISH, computer-assisted, 3–5 probesRelated urinary tract FISH code for analysis using computer-assisted technology.$392.04
Used instead
88112Selective-enhancement cytology, nongynecologic specimensCell-enhanced cytopathology preparation for cellular specimens, rather than FISH probe analysis.$65.54
88108Concentrated cytology, non-gynecologic specimenConcentrated fluid cytopathology examination, a different method from urinary tract FISH.$68.80
88104Fluid cytology, direct smear methodCytopathology examination of fluid smears, rather than molecular probe testing.$84.24

How 88120 has changed in Houston, TX

88120 · Office / nonfacility

$539.53

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $5.63 lower than on 2025-10-01, moving from $545.16 to $539.53 (1.0%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $545.16changed to$539.53

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.20 changed to 1.17
    • Practice expense RVU 15.52 changed to 15.01
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.003 changed to 0.993
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.376

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $581.72changed to$545.16

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 16.14 changed to 15.52

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $572.23changed to$581.72

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $614.10changed to$572.23

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 16.56 changed to 16.14
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.003
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.409

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $648.67changed to$614.10

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 16.96 changed to 16.56
    • Work GPCI 1.032 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.029 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.900 changed to 1.154

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $651.26changed to$648.67

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 16.90 changed to 16.96
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.06

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $601.24changed to$651.26

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 15.09 changed to 16.90
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.029
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.900

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $616.21changed to$601.24

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 15.64 changed to 15.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.04
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.936 changed to 0.918

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $657.80changed to$616.21

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 16.80 changed to 15.64

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $647.10changed to$657.80

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 16.61 changed to 16.80
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.946 changed to 0.936

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $644.13changed to$647.10

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 16.62 changed to 16.61
    • Work GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.009
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.955 changed to 0.946

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $630.57changed to$644.13

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 16.19 changed to 16.62
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $627.43changed to$630.57

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $621.42changed to$627.43

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 16.01 changed to 16.19
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.04
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.019
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.006
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.939 changed to 0.955

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $622.29changed to$621.42

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 16.99 changed to 16.01
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.002 changed to 1.004
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.923 changed to 0.939

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $622.29

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$539.53Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$539.53Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$539.53Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$539.53Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$545.16Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$545.16Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$545.16Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$545.16Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$581.72Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$581.72Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$581.72Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$581.72Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$572.23Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$614.10Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$614.10Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$614.10Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$614.10Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$648.67Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$648.67Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$648.67Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$648.67Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$651.26Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$651.26Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$651.26Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$651.26Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$601.24Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$601.24Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$601.24Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$601.24Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$616.21Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$616.21Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$616.21Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$616.21Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$657.80Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$657.80Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$657.80Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$657.80Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$647.10Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$647.10Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$647.10Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$647.10Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$644.13Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$644.13Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$644.13Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$644.13Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$630.57Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$630.57Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$627.43Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$627.43Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$621.42Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$621.42Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$621.42Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$621.42Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$622.29Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$622.29Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$622.29Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$622.29Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 88120 for an earlier date of service

Where the Houston, TX rate applies

Houston, TX is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 46 cities and communities in Texas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Texas

88120 billing questions

How does 88120 differ from 88121?

Both describe urinary tract specimen FISH using three to five probes. 88121 is the related code for analysis using computer-assisted technology; select the code that matches the method documented.

Is this conventional urine cytology?

No. This code is for fluorescent in situ hybridization to detect chromosomal changes. Conventional cytology evaluates cell appearance and is reported with a different cytopathology code.

How many units are reported?

Report per specimen analyzed with the three-to-five-probe method. The probe count does not create a separate unit for each probe.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation alone and modifier TC for the technical work alone. An unmodified claim represents the global service, including both components.

What documentation supports the service?

Record the urinary tract specimen, the FISH method and probe set, the analysis performed, and the interpreted findings. The documentation should support that three to five probes were used for each specimen.

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
RVUs for 88120PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,115 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Houston, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 102 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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