CPT code 88302: Tissue pathology, level II specimen2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Louisiana
Report this code for a pathologist’s gross and microscopic examination of a CPT-defined Level II specimen, such as a hernia sac or skin tag.
Medicare pays $29.22–$30.87 for 88302 in the office in Louisiana, from Rest of Louisiana to New Orleans, LA. 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 88302 covers
A pathologist examines tissue submitted after a procedure, evaluating its gross appearance and preparing and reviewing sections microscopically before issuing a diagnostic report. Typical Level II submissions include a hernia sac, skin tags, a newborn’s foreskin, or a vas deferens removed for sterilization. Surgeons and other procedural clinicians collect the tissue; pathology laboratories perform the examination for hospital and outpatient cases.
Choose the level from the specimen type and procedure under the surgical pathology code family, not from how involved the diagnosis seems. The pathology report should identify the specimen and its source and document the examination and findings. Report the service per specimen, rather than per slide or tissue block. CMS separately prices the professional interpretation with modifier 26 and the technical work, including equipment and staff, with modifier TC; 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 88302 pays more and less in Louisiana
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $30.87 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | $29.22 | Unavailable |
How the 88302 rate is calculated
Each of 88302’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 · 88302
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.13
0.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.82
0.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.9700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$32.40
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88302
The CMS indicators that decide how 88302 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88302
Tissue pathology, level II specimen
| 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
88302 without 26 · national office
$32.40
Tissue pathology, level II specimen
88302-26 · Professional component
$6.68
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88302 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88300Gross pathologyGross examination only
- 88300 is limited to gross examination. Use 88302 when the Level II specimen receives the corresponding gross and microscopic pathology examination.
- 88304Tissue pathology examLevel III specimen
- Both are surgical pathology levels, but the applicable code is determined by the specimen category and procedure. Do not move a Level II specimen to 88304 based only on perceived complexity.
- 88305Tissue pathology examLevel IV specimen
- 88305 represents a different specimen level in the same family. Follow the code family’s specimen assignment rather than selecting it simply because the pathologist’s work seems more extensive.
88302 billing questions
How does 88302 differ from 88300?
88302 represents a Level II specimen examined grossly and microscopically. 88300 is for a surgical pathology examination limited to gross evaluation.
How is 88302 distinguished from 88304 or 88305?
These codes represent different specimen levels in the surgical pathology family. Select the level assigned to the specimen type and procedure rather than choosing based on perceived diagnostic complexity.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the pathologist’s professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical portion; billing without either modifier represents the global service.
How many units should be reported for multiple slides or blocks?
The service is reported per specimen, not per slide or tissue block. Use the submitted specimen and its assigned level to determine the code and units.
What documentation supports reporting 88302?
The pathology record should identify the specimen and source and include the pathologist’s examination and findings. The specimen type and procedure should support Level II selection.
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
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