CPT code 88314: Histochemical stain, group III stain2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports a Group III histochemical stain performed on tissue when the pathologist needs additional microscopic information beyond routine staining.
Medicare pays $76.64–$84.49 for 88314 in the office in Illinois, from Rest of Illinois to Suburban Chicago, IL. 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 88314 covers
A Group III histochemical stain is an additional tissue preparation used to bring out features that help a pathologist evaluate a biopsy or other surgical specimen. Laboratory histotechnologists perform the staining, and a pathologist interprets the result in the context of the specimen and issues the diagnostic report. The stain may be used when routine hematoxylin-and-eosin sections leave a specific tissue characteristic unclear; the stain must fall within the CPT Group III classification.
Report 88314 for each applicable stain, with documentation identifying the stain, the tissue examined, and the diagnostic reason for using it. It is an add-on to the pathology service, not a substitute for the primary examination of the specimen. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the laboratory work, and no modifier reports the global service. CMS separately prices both component modifiers.
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 88314 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$76.64 to $84.49
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $83.56 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $77.56 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $76.64 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $84.49 | Unavailable |
How the 88314 rate is calculated
Each of 88314’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 · 88314
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.44
0.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.98
1.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.03
0.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
2.4500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$81.83
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88314
The CMS indicators that decide how 88314 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88314
Histochemical stain, group III stain
| 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
88314 without 26 · national office
$81.83
Histochemical stain, group III stain
88314-26 · Professional component
$18.70
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88314 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88312Special stainGroup I, microorganisms
- Use 88312 for a special stain classified in Group I; 88314 is reserved for Group III stains. The stain’s CPT group determines the code.
- 88313Special stainGroup II, tissue constituents
- Use 88313 for a special stain classified in Group II. Choose 88314 only when the stain belongs to Group III.
- 88342Antibody stainFirst single antibody per specimen
- 88342 reports an immunohistochemical or immunocytochemical stain using an antibody. 88314 is for a Group III histochemical stain.
88314 billing questions
When should 88314 be selected instead of 88312 or 88313?
Select 88314 when the stain performed belongs to CPT Group III. The stain’s CPT group, rather than the specimen type or the reason for testing alone, distinguishes it from Groups I and II.
Can 88314 be reported by itself?
No. It is an add-on stain service reported with the related primary pathology service, such as a surgical pathology examination, when that examination and the stain are documented.
What supports reporting 88314?
The record should identify the Group III stain, the specimen or tissue examined, and the clinical or diagnostic question the stain helps address. The pathology report should include the interpretation.
How are the professional and technical components reported?
Use modifier 26 for the pathologist’s interpretation and modifier TC for the technical laboratory work. Report without either modifier when billing the global service.
Is 88314 counted per slide or per stain?
The code is reported for each applicable stain, not simply for each slide or tissue section. Documentation should make the stain performed identifiable.
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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