CPT code 88173: FNA cytology, final interpretation and report2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports the pathologist’s diagnostic interpretation of cells obtained by fine needle aspiration, such as an aspirate from a thyroid nodule or lymph node.
Medicare pays $155.79–$173.51 for 88173 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont, TX to Austin, TX. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 88173 covers
A pathologist or cytopathologist examines cells collected by fine needle aspiration and issues a diagnostic interpretation and report. Common specimens come from thyroid nodules, lymph nodes, breast masses, salivary glands, and other palpable or image-guided targets. The procedure clinician obtains the aspirate; this service concerns the cytologic evaluation, not the needle placement itself or an immediate check that the sample is adequate.
Report 88173 for the diagnostic interpretation and report of the FNA material. Documentation should identify the specimen and site and support the pathologist’s review and conclusions. When the service is split, modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation and report, while TC identifies the technical work, including equipment and staff. Billing without either modifier represents the global service, combining the professional and technical 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.
Where 88173 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$155.79 to $173.51
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $173.51 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $155.79 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $165.59 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $166.36 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $165.19 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $165.91 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $166.82 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $160.41 | Unavailable |
How the 88173 rate is calculated
Each of 88173’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 · 88173
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.36
1.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.58
3.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.05
0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.9900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$166.67
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88173
The CMS indicators that decide how 88173 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88173
FNA cytology, final interpretation and report
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
88173 without 26 · national office
$166.67
FNA cytology, final interpretation and report
88173-26 · Professional component
$65.47
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88173 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88172FNA adequacyFirst site
- Use 88172 for an immediate adequacy assessment during the procedure. Use 88173 for the diagnostic interpretation and report of the aspirate.
- 88177FNA adequacyEach additional evaluation
- 88177 describes an additional immediate adequacy evaluation episode at the same site; it is not the final diagnostic interpretation represented by 88173.
- 88160Cytology smearOther source, screening and interpretation
- 88160 is for cytologic evaluation of smears from sources other than an FNA. Use 88173 when the material being interpreted was obtained by fine needle aspiration.
88173 billing questions
How is 88173 different from 88172?
88173 is the diagnostic interpretation and report of the aspirate. 88172 describes an immediate assessment during the procedure to determine whether the specimen is adequate.
Can 88172 and 88173 be reported for the same FNA?
They may both be reported when an immediate adequacy assessment is performed during the procedure and the aspirate also receives a diagnostic interpretation and report.
When should modifier 26 or TC be used?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and report, or TC for the technical component. Without either modifier, 88173 represents the global service.
Does 88173 describe the FNA procedure itself?
No. It describes cytologic evaluation of the aspirated material; it does not describe obtaining the sample with a needle.
What documentation supports reporting 88173?
The record should identify the FNA specimen and site and include the pathologist’s diagnostic interpretation and report.
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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