CPT code 88312: Special stain, group I, microorganisms2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New York
Report a Group I histochemical stain for each stain performed on a specimen to help identify microorganisms in tissue, with interpretation and a report.
Medicare pays $104.71–$128.72 for 88312 in the office in New York, from Rest of New York to NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY. 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 88312 covers
A Group I special stain helps a pathologist identify microorganisms in tissue when routine H&E examination is insufficient. Examples include Gram stain for bacteria, acid-fast stains for mycobacteria, and GMS for fungi. Giemsa or Warthin-Starry may be used to evaluate a gastric biopsy for Helicobacter pylori. Histology staff prepare the stained sections, and a pathologist interprets and reports the findings, commonly alongside a surgical pathology examination. The work may be performed in an independent laboratory or hospital pathology department.
Report one unit for each stain on each separate specimen, rather than for each block, section, or slide. Additional slides or repeats of the same stain on the same specimen do not create additional units. Documentation should identify the specimen, each stain performed, and its interpretation. Modifier TC identifies the staining work, including staff, supplies, and equipment; modifier 26 identifies the pathologist's interpretation. When one billing entity provides both components, report the global service without either component modifier.
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 88312 pays more and less in New York
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
5 payment localities
$104.71 to $128.72
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, NY | $125.99 | Unavailable |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $128.72 | Unavailable |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $119.19 | Unavailable |
| Queens, NY | $127.67 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New York | $104.71 | Unavailable |
How the 88312 rate is calculated
Each of 88312’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 · 88312
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.53
0.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.72
2.72 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.03
0.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.2800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$109.55
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88312
The CMS indicators that decide how 88312 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88312
Special stain, group I, microorganisms
| 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
88312 without 26 · national office
$109.55
Special stain, group I, microorganisms
88312-26 · Professional component
$25.05
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88312 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88313Special stainGroup II, tissue constituents
- Use 88312 for a histochemical stain intended to identify microorganisms. Use 88313 when the stain evaluates a non-organism feature, such as iron deposits or tissue fibers; the purpose matters for stains such as PAS.
- 88342Antibody stainFirst single antibody per specimen
- 88342 reports immunohistochemical staining with a first antibody, which may detect an organism antigen. 88312 reports a histochemical stain for microorganisms without an antibody.
- 88305Tissue pathology examLevel IV specimen
- 88305 reports the surgical pathology examination of a qualifying specimen, such as a gastric biopsy. A separately performed and interpreted Group I organism stain on that specimen is reported with 88312.
88312 billing questions
How many units are reported when one stain is applied to several blocks from the same specimen?
Report one unit for that stain on that specimen. Additional blocks or slides bearing the same stain do not add units.
How do I choose between 88312 and 88313?
Choose 88312 for a histochemical stain used to identify microorganisms, such as an acid-fast stain or GMS for fungi. Choose 88313 for stains directed at non-organism tissue features, such as iron or reticulin.
Is a distinct-specimen modifier required when the same stain is performed on two specimens?
Report a unit for each separate specimen. Do not append modifier 59 or XS solely because there are two specimens; use a distinct-service modifier only when needed to identify separate work under an applicable edit.
When are modifiers 26 and TC used?
The pathologist billing only the interpretation uses modifier 26; the entity billing only the staining work uses modifier TC. An entity billing both components reports the global service without either modifier.
Is routine H&E staining separately reported with 88312?
No. Routine H&E staining used for microscopic surgical pathology examination is included in that examination. Report 88312 for a separately performed, interpreted Group I special stain.
Does a PAS stain always qualify for 88312?
No. PAS used to look for fungi is a Group I organism stain; PAS used to evaluate a noninfectious feature, such as glycogen or basement membranes, is reported with 88313.
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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