CPT code 88332: Frozen section, each additional tissue block2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maine
Reports a pathologist’s intraoperative frozen-section examination of each additional tissue block beyond the initial block, such as when assessing surgical margins.
Medicare pays $50.52–$52.89 for 88332 in the office in Maine, from Rest of Maine to Southern Maine, ME. 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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What 88332 covers
A pathologist uses this service during an operation to examine an additional tissue block by frozen section and provide an immediate diagnostic opinion to the surgeon. It is commonly used when further tissue is submitted to assess a margin or clarify an intraoperative finding. The work may occur in a hospital or other surgical setting with the specimen processed and examined while the procedure is underway.
Report 88332 for each additional block examined after the initial block, typically with 88331 for the first block. The operative and pathology records should support the number of distinct blocks examined and the intraoperative interpretation communicated to the surgical team. For Medicare, modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, modifier TC identifies the technical service, and reporting without either modifier represents the global service. CMS separately prices the 26 and TC 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 88332 pays more and less in Maine
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of Maine | $50.52 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine, ME | $52.89 | Unavailable |
How the 88332 rate is calculated
Each of 88332’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 · 88332
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.58
0.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.00
1.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.6000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$53.44
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88332
The CMS indicators that decide how 88332 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88332
Frozen section, each additional tissue block
| 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
88332 without 26 · national office
$53.44
Frozen section, each additional tissue block
88332-26 · Professional component
$29.06
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88332 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88331Frozen sectionFirst block, one specimen
- 88331 covers the initial tissue block in an intraoperative frozen-section consultation; 88332 is for each additional block examined.
- 88334Intraoperative cytologyEach additional site
- 88334 covers additional intraoperative cytologic examinations, while 88332 covers additional tissue blocks examined by frozen section.
- 88329Pathology consultGross examination only
- 88329 represents an intraoperative pathology consultation based on gross examination. Choose 88332 when an additional tissue block is examined by frozen section.
88332 billing questions
When should 88332 be reported instead of 88331?
Use 88331 for the initial tissue block in the intraoperative frozen-section consultation. Report 88332 for each additional block examined during that consultation.
Can 88332 be reported with 88331?
Yes. The additional-block service is reported with 88331 for the initial block when the pathologist examines further blocks during the same intraoperative consultation.
Which modifiers identify the components?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports multiple units?
The pathology record should identify the additional blocks examined and document the intraoperative findings or interpretation. Report a unit for each additional block supported by the record.
Is 88332 for an intraoperative cytology examination?
No. It represents additional tissue-block frozen-section work. Intraoperative cytologic examination is represented by the separate 88333 and 88334 code family.
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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