CPT code 88161: Cytology smear, preparation, screening, interpretation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $82.83 for 88161 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $73.12–$113.11.

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

What 88161 covers

This service covers making cytology smears from a non-gynecologic specimen and examining them for cellular abnormalities, with interpretation and a report. A cytotechnologist commonly performs the technical preparation and screening, with a pathologist providing professional interpretation. Specimens may include sputum or urine; cervical and vaginal specimens use their own code family. The service may be performed in a hospital or independent pathology laboratory.

Choose this code when the laboratory prepares the smear as well as screens and interprets it. The record should identify the specimen source and support the preparation and cytologic evaluation performed. CMS recognizes separate professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff work, and billing 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 88161 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

88161 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 88161 rate is calculated

Each of 88161’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 88161

The CMS indicators that decide how 88161 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

88161 compared with similar codes

How to choose

88160Cytology smearOther source, screening and interpretation

88161 includes preparation of the smear in addition to screening and interpretation. 88160 is the closer fit when the laboratory screens and interprets a smear without performing that preparation.

88162Cytopathology smearAutomated, other source

88162 describes a manual-screening pathway under physician supervision. 88161 is selected for the service that includes smear preparation, screening, and interpretation.

88142Pap testPreservative fluid, manual screening

88142 is for cervical or vaginal cytology. 88161 is for smears from other sources, such as sputum or urine.

88108Concentrated cytologyNon-gynecologic specimen

88108 is for cytology using a concentration technique on fluids, washings, or brushings. 88161 applies when the service is smear preparation, screening, and interpretation rather than that concentration method.

Codes related to 88161

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