CPT code 89220: Sputum collection, aerosol induction2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama
Reports aerosol-induced collection of sputum when a diagnostic specimen is needed, such as when a patient cannot produce an adequate sample by coughing.
In Alabama, Medicare pays $18.31 for 89220 in the office.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 89220 nationwide
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 11 sections
What 89220 covers
This service obtains a sputum specimen through aerosol induction, commonly using nebulized saline to help a patient produce respiratory secretions for diagnostic testing. It is used when a spontaneously expectorated sample is not available or adequate. Clinical staff, such as respiratory therapists or nurses, may perform the collection in an outpatient setting under the responsible practitioner’s direction. The collected specimen may be sent for microbiology or cytopathology testing; those laboratory analyses are distinct from obtaining the sample.
Report 89220 for the induced collection, not for testing or interpreting the specimen. Documentation should identify the aerosol-induced technique and the specimen obtained. CMS classifies this as a technical-component-only service, with interpretation covered by a separate code; do not report modifier 26 on 89220 to represent interpretation. The separate test code depends on the analysis performed, such as culture or cytopathology.
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 Alabama compares for 89220
Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 89220 runs from $17.96 in Arkansas to $30.04 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $18.31. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.
- Alabama · this page$18.31
- Los Angeles, CA · California$24.72+$6.41
- Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$24.77+$6.46
- Miami, FL · Florida$22.40+$4.09
- Chicago, IL · Illinois$21.58+$3.27
- Manhattan, NY · New York$24.59+$6.28
- Alaska · Alaska$22.24+$3.93
Other areas in Alabama first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| ArkansasArkansas | $17.96 | — |
| ArizonaArizona | $20.35 | — |
| Bakersfield, CACalifornia | $22.90 | — |
| Chico, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| El Centro, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Fresno, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Hanford, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Madera, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Merced, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Modesto, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Napa, CACalifornia | $27.46 | — |
| Oxnard, CACalifornia | $24.69 | — |
| Redding, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Riverside, CACalifornia | $22.98 | — |
| Sacramento, CACalifornia | $24.26 | — |
| Salinas, CACalifornia | $24.18 | — |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | $24.95 | — |
| Marin County, CACalifornia | $29.35 | — |
| San Francisco, CACalifornia | $29.34 | — |
| San Benito County, CACalifornia | $30.04 | — |
| Santa Clara County, CACalifornia | $29.99 | — |
| San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia | $23.77 | — |
| Santa Cruz, CACalifornia | $25.34 | — |
| Santa Maria, CACalifornia | $24.33 | — |
| Santa Rosa, CACalifornia | $25.61 | — |
| Stockton, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Vallejo, CACalifornia | $27.45 | — |
| Visalia, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| Yuba City, CACalifornia | $22.88 | — |
| ColoradoColorado | $22.29 | — |
| ConnecticutConnecticut | $22.71 | — |
| DelawareDelaware | $20.76 | — |
| Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida | $21.58 | — |
| Rest of FloridaFlorida | $20.30 | — |
| Atlanta, GAGeorgia | $21.44 | — |
| Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia | $18.87 | — |
| Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii | $23.74 | — |
| IowaIowa | $19.08 | — |
| IdahoIdaho | $19.21 | — |
| East St. Louis, ILIllinois | $19.72 | — |
| Rest of IllinoisIllinois | $19.43 | — |
| Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois | $21.86 | — |
| IndianaIndiana | $19.36 | — |
| KansasKansas | $18.89 | — |
| KentuckyKentucky | $18.72 | — |
| New Orleans, LALouisiana | $19.87 | — |
| Rest of LouisianaLouisiana | $18.65 | — |
| Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts | $25.02 | — |
| Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts | $22.07 | — |
| Baltimore area, MDMaryland | $22.63 | — |
| Rest of MarylandMaryland | $21.26 | — |
| Rest of MaineMaine | $19.26 | — |
| Southern Maine, MEMaine | $20.73 | — |
| Detroit, MIMichigan | $20.55 | — |
| Rest of MichiganMichigan | $19.28 | — |
| MinnesotaMinnesota | $21.41 | — |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri | $19.77 | — |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri | $20.05 | — |
| Rest of MissouriMissouri | $18.18 | — |
| MississippiMississippi | $18.08 | — |
| MontanaMontana | $21.04 | — |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina | $19.53 | — |
| North DakotaNorth Dakota | $20.84 | — |
| NebraskaNebraska | $19.24 | — |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire | $21.85 | — |
| Northern New JerseyNew Jersey | $24.38 | — |
| Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey | $22.98 | — |
| New MexicoNew Mexico | $19.39 | — |
| NevadaNevada | $21.01 | — |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York | $25.24 | — |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York | $23.08 | — |
| Queens, NYNew York | $24.96 | — |
| Rest of New YorkNew York | $19.91 | — |
| OhioOhio | $19.24 | — |
| OklahomaOklahoma | $18.75 | — |
| Portland, OROregon | $23.26 | — |
| Rest of OregonOregon | $20.86 | — |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | $21.96 | — |
| Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | $19.33 | — |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | $21.27 | — |
| Rhode IslandRhode Island | $21.69 | — |
| South CarolinaSouth Carolina | $19.42 | — |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota | $20.82 | — |
| TennesseeTennessee | $19.00 | — |
| Austin, TXTexas | $22.21 | — |
| Beaumont, TXTexas | $19.16 | — |
| Brazoria, TXTexas | $20.78 | — |
| Dallas, TXTexas | $20.91 | — |
| Fort Worth, TXTexas | $20.71 | — |
| Galveston, TXTexas | $20.84 | — |
| Houston, TXTexas | $21.02 | — |
| Rest of TexasTexas | $19.95 | — |
| UtahUtah | $19.77 | — |
| VirginiaVirginia | $20.59 | — |
| Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands | $21.27 | — |
| VermontVermont | $20.67 | — |
| Rest of WashingtonWashington | $22.06 | — |
| King County, WAWashington | $25.68 | — |
| WisconsinWisconsin | $19.94 | — |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia | $18.47 | — |
| WyomingWyoming | $20.96 | — |
89220 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$17.96
$26.46
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $22.24 | 1 |
| AL | $18.31 | 1 |
| AR | $17.96 | 1 |
| AZ | $20.35 | 1 |
| CA | $22.88–$30.04 | 29 |
| CO | $22.29 | 1 |
| CT | $22.71 | 1 |
| DC | $24.77 | 1 |
| DE | $20.76 | 1 |
| FL | $20.30–$22.40 | 3 |
| GA | $18.87–$21.44 | 2 |
| GU | $23.74 | 1 |
| HI | $23.74 | 1 |
| IA | $19.08 | 1 |
| ID | $19.21 | 1 |
| IL | $19.43–$21.86 | 4 |
| IN | $19.36 | 1 |
| KS | $18.89 | 1 |
| KY | $18.72 | 1 |
| LA | $18.65–$19.87 | 2 |
| MA | $22.07–$25.02 | 2 |
| MD | $21.26–$24.77 | 3 |
| ME | $19.26–$20.73 | 2 |
| MI | $19.28–$20.55 | 2 |
| MN | $21.41 | 1 |
| MO | $18.18–$20.05 | 3 |
| MS | $18.08 | 1 |
| MT | $21.04 | 1 |
| NC | $19.53 | 1 |
| ND | $20.84 | 1 |
| NE | $19.24 | 1 |
| NH | $21.85 | 1 |
| NJ | $22.98–$24.38 | 2 |
| NM | $19.39 | 1 |
| NV | $21.01 | 1 |
| NY | $19.91–$25.24 | 5 |
| OH | $19.24 | 1 |
| OK | $18.75 | 1 |
| OR | $20.86–$23.26 | 2 |
| PA | $19.33–$21.96 | 2 |
| PR | $21.27 | 1 |
| RI | $21.69 | 1 |
| SC | $19.42 | 1 |
| SD | $20.82 | 1 |
| TN | $19.00 | 1 |
| TX | $19.16–$22.21 | 8 |
| UT | $19.77 | 1 |
| VA | $20.59–$24.77 | 2 |
| VI | $21.27 | 1 |
| VT | $20.67 | 1 |
| WA | $22.06–$25.68 | 2 |
| WI | $19.94 | 1 |
| WV | $18.47 | 1 |
| WY | $20.96 | 1 |
How the 89220 rate is calculated
Each of 89220’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 · 89220
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.62
0.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.01
0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.6300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$21.04
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
The exact Alabama inputs and CMS source lines
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
11,343
- Code
- 89220
- Physician work
- 0.00
- Practice expense
- 0.62
- Malpractice
- 0.01
GPCI2026.csv
4
- Locality
- Alabama
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.875
- Malpractice
- 0.566
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.00 | × 1.000 | 0.0000 |
| Practice expense | 0.62 | × 0.875 | 0.5425 |
| Malpractice | 0.01 | × 0.566 | 0.0057 |
| Total RVUs | 0.5482 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office rate, Alabama$18.31
Office: (0 × 1 + 0.62 × 0.875 + 0.01 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $18.31
Payment rules and modifiers for 89220
The CMS indicators that decide how 89220 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 89220
Sputum collection, aerosol induction
| 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 | 3 | Technical component only. |
How 89220 has changed in Alabama
89220 · Office / nonfacility
$18.31
Effective 2026-10-01
The base rate is $2.38 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $15.93 to $18.31 (14.9%).
It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.
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
January 1, 2026
RVU26A
$15.93changed to$18.31
- Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
- Practice expense RVU 0.56 changed to 0.62
- Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.875
- Malpractice GPCI 0.575 changed to 0.566
Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.
January 1, 2025
RVU25A
$16.68changed to$15.93
- Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
- Practice expense RVU 0.57 changed to 0.56
Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.
March 9, 2024
RVU24AR
$16.41changed to$16.68
- Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875
Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.
January 1, 2024
RVU24A
$16.02changed to$16.41
- Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
- Practice expense RVU 0.53 changed to 0.57
- Practice expense GPCI 0.878 changed to 0.869
- Malpractice GPCI 0.748 changed to 0.575
January 1, 2023
RVU23A
$16.92changed to$16.02
- Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
- Malpractice RVU 0.02 changed to 0.01
- Practice expense GPCI 0.888 changed to 0.878
- Malpractice GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.748
Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.
January 1, 2022
RVU22A
$16.74changed to$16.92
- Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
- Malpractice RVU 0.01 changed to 0.02
Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.
January 1, 2021
RVU21A
$14.69changed to$16.74
- Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
- Practice expense RVU 0.45 changed to 0.53
- Practice expense GPCI 0.889 changed to 0.888
- Malpractice GPCI 0.707 changed to 0.921
Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.
January 1, 2020
RVU20A
$14.61changed to$14.69
- Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
- Practice expense GPCI 0.890 changed to 0.889
- Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.707
Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.
January 1, 2019
RVU19A
$14.59changed to$14.61
- Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.
April 1, 2018
RVU18B
No ratechanged to$14.59
Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.
January 1, 2013
RVU13AR
Earliest loaded release: No rate
Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.
| Effective from | Office | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | $18.31 | Not available in this setting | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | $18.31 | Not available in this setting | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | $18.31 | Not available in this setting | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | $18.31 | Not available in this setting | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | $15.93 | Not available in this setting | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | $15.93 | Not available in this setting | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | $15.93 | Not available in this setting | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | $15.93 | Not available in this setting | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | $16.68 | Not available in this setting | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | $16.68 | Not available in this setting | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | $16.68 | Not available in this setting | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | $16.68 | Not available in this setting | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | $16.41 | Not available in this setting | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | $16.02 | Not available in this setting | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | $16.02 | Not available in this setting | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | $16.02 | Not available in this setting | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | $16.02 | Not available in this setting | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | $16.92 | Not available in this setting | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | $16.92 | Not available in this setting | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | $16.92 | Not available in this setting | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | $16.92 | Not available in this setting | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | $16.74 | Not available in this setting | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | $16.74 | Not available in this setting | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | $16.74 | Not available in this setting | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | $16.74 | Not available in this setting | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | $14.69 | Not available in this setting | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | $14.69 | Not available in this setting | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | $14.69 | Not available in this setting | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | $14.69 | Not available in this setting | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | $14.61 | Not available in this setting | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | $14.61 | Not available in this setting | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | $14.61 | Not available in this setting | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | $14.61 | Not available in this setting | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | $14.59 | Not available in this setting | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | $14.59 | Not available in this setting | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | $14.59 | Not available in this setting | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Rate data unavailable | Not available in this setting | RVU13AR |
Where the Alabama rate applies
Alabama is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 595 cities and communities in Alabama. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Abanda
- Abbeville
- Adamsville
- Addison
- Akron
- Alabaster
- Albertville
- Alexander City
89220 billing questions
When should 89220 be selected instead of a routine sputum collection?
Use it when aerosol induction is used to obtain sputum for diagnostic testing, typically because the patient cannot produce an adequate specimen by coughing.
Does 89220 include sputum culture or cytology?
No. It represents obtaining the induced specimen. The laboratory reports the applicable analysis, such as bacterial culture or cytopathology, under its own code.
Can modifier 26 be appended to 89220?
No. CMS identifies 89220 as technical-component-only, and a separate code covers interpretation.
What documentation supports reporting 89220?
Document that aerosol induction was performed to obtain sputum and identify the specimen collected. A note that only records a spontaneously expectorated sample does not establish this technique.
Is 89220 the same as collecting a sputum sample during bronchoscopy?
No. This code represents aerosol-induced sputum collection. A specimen obtained as part of a bronchoscopic procedure is associated with that procedure instead.
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
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