CPT code 88348: Electron microscopy, diagnostic tissue examination2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports ultrastructural examination of tissue, such as a kidney biopsy, when electron microscopy is needed to evaluate a diagnostic question.
Medicare pays $439.44–$502.25 for 88348 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont, TX to Austin, TX. 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 88348 covers
A pathology laboratory prepares tissue for examination at ultrastructural resolution, typically by embedding it, cutting very thin sections, and viewing them with an electron microscope. A pathologist interprets the findings. A familiar use is evaluating a kidney biopsy for changes in glomerular basement membranes, deposits, or other features that help characterize renal disease. The service may also be used for other tissue when the diagnostic question requires ultrastructural detail.
Report 88348 for the diagnostic electron microscopy service, not simply because a specimen was submitted for routine microscopic review. The pathology documentation should identify the tissue examined, the reason for the study, and the electron-microscopic findings and interpretation. CMS recognizes a professional component for the interpretation, reported with modifier 26, and a technical component for equipment and staff, reported with modifier TC. Without either modifier, the code represents the global service. The professional and technical components are separately priced when billed with their respective 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 88348 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$439.44 to $502.25
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $502.25 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $439.44 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $473.65 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $476.14 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $471.94 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $474.70 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $476.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $455.91 | Unavailable |
How the 88348 rate is calculated
Each of 88348’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 · 88348
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.47
1.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.72
12.72 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.12
0.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
14.3100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$477.97
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88348
The CMS indicators that decide how 88348 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88348
Electron microscopy, diagnostic tissue examination
| 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
88348 without 26 · national office
$477.97
Electron microscopy, diagnostic tissue examination
88348-26 · Professional component
$72.15
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88348 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88346ImmunofluorescenceInitial antibody stain
- Choose 88348 for ultrastructural examination by electron microscopy; choose 88346 for immunofluorescence examination using the first antibody stain.
- 88355Muscle analysisSkeletal muscle
- 88348 evaluates tissue ultrastructure by electron microscopy. 88355 is morphometric analysis of skeletal muscle, not an electron-microscopy service.
- 88342Antibody stainFirst single antibody per specimen
- 88348 is an ultrastructural microscopy service. 88342 reports immunohistochemical staining and examination for the first antibody.
88348 billing questions
When is 88348 appropriate for a kidney biopsy?
Use it when the biopsy workup includes diagnostic ultrastructural examination to address a renal pathology question. Routine tissue microscopy or immunofluorescence alone is not this service.
How does 88348 differ from 88346?
88348 reports electron-microscopic examination of ultrastructure. 88346 reports immunofluorescence staining and examination for the first antibody.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical work, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, 88348 represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 88348?
Document the tissue source, the diagnostic reason for electron microscopy, and the ultrastructural findings and interpretation. The record should support that electron microscopy was performed, rather than only routine histology or antibody staining.
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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