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CPT code 88321: Slide consultation, outside-prepared slides2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Chicago, IL

A pathologist reviews slides prepared by another laboratory and issues a consultation report, commonly for an outside second opinion on biopsy or resection findings.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality161.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Chicago, IL, Medicare pays $97.45 for 88321 in the office and $70.93 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$97.45Office (non-facility)
$70.93Hospital or facility
+3.8%vs the national office rate ($93.86)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 88321 nationwide

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

We’ll open 88321 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Chicago, IL
  2. What 88321 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 88321 covers

A pathologist examines slides that another laboratory has already prepared and provides an interpretive consultation report. A common situation is a treating clinician requesting an outside review of biopsy or resection slides before deciding on diagnosis or treatment. The service is performed by a pathologist in a hospital, reference laboratory, or other pathology practice; it is not the preparation of new slides from submitted tissue.

Select this code when the consultation is based on slides prepared elsewhere. The report should identify the material reviewed and document the pathologist’s interpretation and conclusions. Use a different consultation code when the referred material requires preparation or when the service involves a broader review of records and specimens. This code represents the slide-review consultation, rather than the original laboratory’s tissue examination or a stain 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.

How Chicago, IL compares for 88321

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 88321 runs from $87.31 in Arkansas to $121.86 in Alaska. Chicago, IL pays $97.45. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

88321 in Chicago, IL vs other payment areas
  1. Chicago, IL · this page$97.45
  2. East St. Louis, IL · Illinois$93.15−$4.30
  3. Rest of Illinois · Illinois$91.83−$5.62
  4. Suburban Chicago, IL · Illinois$97.07−$0.38
  5. Los Angeles, CA · California$102.28+$4.83
  6. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$103.83+$6.38
  7. Miami, FL · Florida$99.01+$1.56

Other areas in Illinois first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

88321 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Manhattan, NYNew York$104.85$74.19
AlaskaAlaska$121.86$93.76
AlabamaAlabama$88.04$64.95
ArkansasArkansas$87.31$64.64
ArizonaArizona$92.33$66.76
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$97.64$68.72
Chico, CACalifornia$97.36$68.44
El Centro, CACalifornia$97.37$68.45

88321 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$87.31

$121.86

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
88321 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$121.861
AL$88.041
AR$87.311
AZ$92.331
CA$97.36–$115.5929
CO$96.441
CT$98.371
DC$103.831
DE$93.421
FL$93.34–$99.013
GA$90.16–$95.102
GU$98.131
HI$98.131
IA$89.181
ID$89.551
IL$91.83–$97.454
IN$89.851
KS$89.011
KY$89.391
LA$89.34–$91.912
MA$96.27–$103.232
MD$94.66–$103.833
ME$89.90–$92.652
MI$90.82–$94.122
MN$93.321
MO$88.50–$92.023
MS$87.911
MT$93.851
NC$90.441
ND$92.471
NE$89.441
NH$95.141
NJ$99.74–$103.512
NM$91.141
NV$93.501
NY$91.24–$106.525
OH$90.531
OK$89.231
OR$93.01–$98.372
PA$90.58–$96.842
PR$94.241
RI$95.881
SC$90.591
SD$92.301
TN$89.281
TX$90.23–$95.928
UT$91.311
VA$92.52–$103.832
VI$94.241
VT$92.321
WA$96.02–$104.802
WI$90.631
WV$89.831
WY$93.251

See 88321 in every payment locality

How the 88321 rate is calculated

Each of 88321’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 · 88321

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.59

1.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.15

1.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.8100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$93.86

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Chicago, IL inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

11,230

Code
88321
Physician work
1.59
Practice expense
1.15
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

48

Locality
Chicago, IL
Physician work
1.007
Practice expense
1.005
Malpractice
2.295
Office calculation for 88321 in Chicago, IL
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.59× 1.0071.6011
Practice expense1.15× 1.0051.1557
Malpractice0.07× 2.2950.1607
Total RVUs2.9175
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Chicago, IL$97.45

Office: (1.59 × 1.007 + 1.15 × 1.005 + 0.07 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $97.45

Facility: (1.59 × 1.007 + 0.36 × 1.005 + 0.07 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $70.93

Open 88321 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 88321

88321 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

Place of service · 88321

Which rate does Medicare pay?

The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$93.86

Non-facility (office)
$93.86
Facility
$67.47

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

Codes related to 88321

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

Codes related to 88321
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Chicago, IL
Same family
88323Pathology consultation, referred material, slides preparedConsultation when referred material requires preparation rather than review of already-prepared slides.$114.44
88325Pathology consultation, comprehensive record reviewBroader pathology consultation involving records and specimens.$159.00
Used instead
88329Pathology consult, gross examination onlyPathology consultation performed during surgery rather than on referred outside slides.$54.13

How 88321 has changed in Chicago, IL

88321 · Office / nonfacility

$97.45

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.08 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $97.37 to $97.45 (0.1%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $97.37changed to$97.45

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.63 changed to 1.59
    • Practice expense RVU 1.20 changed to 1.15
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.005
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.018 changed to 2.295

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $100.20changed to$97.37

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.18 changed to 1.20
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $98.56changed to$100.20

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $101.61changed to$98.56

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.16 changed to 1.18
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.023
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.945 changed to 2.018

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $102.96changed to$101.61

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.11 changed to 1.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.871 changed to 1.945

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $104.18changed to$102.96

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.12 changed to 1.11

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $107.52changed to$104.18

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.011
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.898 changed to 1.871

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $107.25changed to$107.52

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.14 changed to 1.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.034 changed to 1.039
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.925 changed to 1.898

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $109.73changed to$107.25

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.21 changed to 1.14

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $109.85changed to$109.73

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.034
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.972 changed to 1.925

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $108.89changed to$109.85

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.18 changed to 1.21
    • Work GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.036
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.019 changed to 1.972

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $101.85changed to$108.89

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.00 changed to 1.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $101.34changed to$101.85

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $101.85changed to$101.34

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.93 changed to 1.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.016
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.037
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.048 changed to 2.019

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $100.30changed to$101.85

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.01 changed to 0.93
    • Work GPCI 1.030 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.077 changed to 2.048

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$100.30

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$97.45$70.93RVU26D
2026-07-01$97.45$70.93RVU26C
2026-04-01$97.45$70.93RVU26B
2026-01-01$97.45$70.93RVU26A
2025-10-01$97.37$82.48RVU25D
2025-07-01$97.37$82.48RVU25C
2025-04-01$97.37$82.48RVU25B
2025-01-01$97.37$82.48RVU25A
2024-10-01$100.20$84.87RVU24D
2024-07-01$100.20$84.87RVU24C
2024-04-01$100.20$84.87RVU24B
2024-03-09$100.20$84.87RVU24AR
2024-01-01$98.56$83.49RVU24A
2023-10-01$101.61$86.91RVU23D
2023-07-01$101.61$86.91RVU23C
2023-04-01$101.61$86.91RVU23B
2023-01-01$101.61$86.91RVU23A
2022-10-01$102.96$88.51RVU22D
2022-07-01$102.96$88.51RVU22C
2022-04-01$102.96$88.51RVU22B
2022-01-01$102.96$88.51RVU22A
2021-10-01$104.18$89.24RVU21D
2021-07-01$104.18$89.24RVU21C
2021-04-01$104.18$89.24RVU21B
2021-01-01$104.18$89.24RVU21A
2020-10-01$107.52$92.52RVU20D
2020-07-01$107.52$92.52RVU20C
2020-04-01$107.52$92.52RVU20B
2020-01-01$107.52$92.52RVU20A
2019-10-01$107.25$91.22RVU19D
2019-07-01$107.25$91.22RVU19C
2019-04-01$107.25$91.22RVU19B
2019-01-01$107.25$91.22RVU19A
2018-10-01$109.73$92.24RVU18D
2018-07-01$109.73$92.24RVU18C
2018-04-01$109.73$92.24RVU18B
2018-01-01$109.73$92.24RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$109.85$92.75RVU17D
2017-07-01$109.85$92.75RVU17C
2017-04-01$109.85$92.75RVU17B
2017-01-01$109.85$92.75RVU17A
2016-10-01$108.89$92.55RVU16D
2016-07-01$108.89$92.55RVU16C
2016-04-01$108.89$92.55RVU16B
2016-01-01$108.89$92.55RVU16A
2015-10-01$101.85$91.42RVU15D
2015-07-01$101.85$91.42RVU15C
2015-04-01$101.34$90.96RVU15B
2015-01-01$101.34$90.96RVU15A
2014-10-01$101.85$92.13RVU14D
2014-07-01$101.85$92.13RVU14C
2014-04-01$101.85$92.13RVU14B
2014-01-01$101.85$92.13RVU14A
2013-10-01$100.30$89.93RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 88321 for an earlier date of service

Where the Chicago, IL rate applies

Chicago, IL is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 137 cities and communities in Illinois. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Illinois

88321 billing questions

How does this differ from 88323?

Use 88321 when the slides were already prepared elsewhere. Code 88323 is for consultation when the referred material requires preparation.

Does 88321 include preparing new slides?

No. The service is the pathologist’s review and report on slides prepared by another laboratory.

When would 88325 be a better fit?

88325 describes a more comprehensive consultation involving review of records and specimens. 88321 is focused on the referred slides.

What documentation supports reporting 88321?

Document the slides reviewed, their outside source, the consultation request, and the pathologist’s findings and conclusions in the report.

Can the original tissue examination report support 88321 by itself?

No. The record should show a separate consultation based on the outside-prepared slides and include the consulting pathologist’s 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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 88321PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,230 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Chicago, ILGPCI2026.csv, line 48 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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