CPT code 88387: Tissue preparation, first specimen2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports gross tissue selection, dissection, and preparation of a specimen for nonmicroscopic analysis, such as a nucleic acid-based molecular study.
Medicare pays $32.06–$33.80 for 88387 in the office in Illinois, from Rest of Illinois to 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 88387 covers
A pathologist examines tissue macroscopically, selects the area needed for a nonmicroscopic analytical study, and dissects and prepares it for testing. A common situation is selecting tumor tissue from a surgical specimen for downstream molecular analysis. The preparation service is distinct from performing or interpreting the molecular assay itself and may take place in a hospital or pathology laboratory.
Report 88387 for the first specimen prepared under this service; code 88388 is used for additional specimens when appropriate. Documentation should identify the tissue and analytical purpose and support the macroscopic selection, dissection, and preparation performed. CMS treats this as a diagnostic test with professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, modifier TC identifies the technical service, and reporting without either modifier represents the global 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.
Where 88387 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
$32.06 to $33.80
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $33.80 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $32.45 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $32.06 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $33.71 | Unavailable |
How the 88387 rate is calculated
Each of 88387’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 · 88387
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.60
0.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.36
0.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.9800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$32.73
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88387
The CMS indicators that decide how 88387 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88387
Tissue preparation, first specimen
| 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
88387 without 26 · national office
$32.73
Tissue preparation, first specimen
88387-26 · Professional component
$25.38
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88387 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88363Tissue preparationArchived tissue, each case
- Use 88387 for macroscopic tissue dissection and preparation. Use 88363 when examining and selecting previously archived tissue for molecular analysis.
- 88380Tissue microdissectionLaser capture method
- 88380 is for laser microdissection at a microscopic level; 88387 is for macroscopic tissue selection and preparation.
- 88381MicrodissectionManual tissue preparation
- 88381 describes manual microdissection. 88387 describes macroscopic dissection and preparation for nonmicroscopic analysis.
88387 billing questions
How is 88387 different from 88363?
88387 covers macroscopic dissection and preparation of tissue for a nonmicroscopic study. 88363 concerns examining and selecting tissue already in an archive for molecular analysis.
When is 88388 used instead?
88387 represents preparation of the first specimen; 88388 is the related code for each additional specimen when the service is performed on more than one.
Does 88387 include the molecular assay?
No. It represents the gross tissue selection and preparation, not the downstream molecular analysis.
Which modifiers identify the components?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and TC for the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
How does this differ from microdissection?
88387 describes macroscopic selection and preparation. Codes 88380 and 88381 describe laser and manual microdissection, respectively.
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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