HCPCS code Q0091: Pap collection, screening specimen2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama

Q0091 reports obtaining and preparing a cervical or vaginal specimen for a screening Pap test and sending it to the laboratory.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality368.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Alabama, Medicare pays $41.53 for Q0091 in the office and $14.93 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$41.53Office (non-facility)
$14.93Hospital or facility
−9.9%vs the national office rate ($46.09)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · Q0091 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 Q0091 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Alabama
  2. What Q0091 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 Q0091 covers

Q0091 represents the clinician’s work to obtain a cervical or vaginal specimen for a screening Pap test, prepare it, and send it to the laboratory. It is commonly reported when a physician or other qualified practitioner collects the sample during a preventive gynecologic visit. The code covers specimen acquisition and handling, not cytology interpretation or a separately performed pelvic examination.

Report Q0091 when the collection is for screening, rather than evaluation of symptoms or a known abnormality. Documentation should identify the screening purpose, record that the specimen was collected, and support its preparation and conveyance to the laboratory. G0101 may describe a screening pelvic examination performed at the same visit; the laboratory reports cytology under the code matching its preparation and screening method. CMS assigns physician work and practice-expense values to Q0091, with separate office and facility practice-expense inputs.

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 Q0091

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for Q0091 runs from $40.94 in Arkansas to $61.57 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $41.53. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Q0091 in Alabama vs other payment areas
  1. Alabama · this page$41.53
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$52.30+$10.77
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$52.74+$11.21
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$48.98+$7.45
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$47.64+$6.11
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$52.81+$11.28
  7. Alaska · Alaska$53.80+$12.27

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

Every other payment area

Q0091 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$40.94$14.84
ArizonaArizona$44.92$15.47
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$49.10$15.79
Chico, CACalifornia$49.01$15.69
El Centro, CACalifornia$49.01$15.70
Fresno, CACalifornia$49.01$15.69
Hanford, CACalifornia$49.01$15.69
Madera, CACalifornia$49.01$15.69

Q0091 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.

$40.94

$55.29

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

View every state and territory as a table
Q0091 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$53.801
AL$41.531
AR$40.941
AZ$44.921
CA$49.01–$61.5729
CO$48.131
CT$49.091
DC$52.741
DE$45.661
FL$45.14–$48.983
GA$42.71–$46.862
GU$50.201
HI$50.201
IA$42.681
ID$42.921
IL$43.78–$47.844
IN$43.161
KS$42.421
KY$42.341
LA$42.25–$44.282
MA$47.83–$52.892
MD$46.53–$52.743
ME$43.07–$45.432
MI$43.35–$45.622
MN$46.351
MO$41.50–$44.513
MS$41.241
MT$46.091
NC$43.521
ND$45.501
NE$42.921
NH$47.321
NJ$49.71–$52.212
NM$43.551
NV$45.961
NY$44.14–$53.975
OH$43.221
OK$42.331
OR$45.66–$49.702
PA$43.33–$47.862
PR$46.441
RI$47.301
SC$43.431
SD$45.431
TN$42.621
TX$43.05–$47.928
UT$44.011
VA$45.24–$52.742
VI$46.441
VT$45.271
WA$47.76–$54.022
WI$44.011
WV$42.191
WY$45.831

See Q0091 in every payment locality

How the Q0091 rate is calculated

Each of Q0091’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 · Q0091

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.36

0.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.99

0.99 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.03

0.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.3800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$46.09

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

18,050

Code
Q0091
Physician work
0.36
Practice expense
0.99
Malpractice
0.03

GPCI2026.csv

4

Locality
Alabama
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.875
Malpractice
0.566
Office calculation for Q0091 in Alabama
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.36× 1.0000.3600
Practice expense0.99× 0.8750.8662
Malpractice0.03× 0.5660.0170
Total RVUs1.2432
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Alabama$41.53

Office: (0.36 × 1 + 0.99 × 0.875 + 0.03 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $41.53

Facility: (0.36 × 1 + 0.08 × 0.875 + 0.03 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $14.93

Open Q0091 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for Q0091

Q0091 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 · Q0091

Which rate does Medicare pay?

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

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$46.09

Non-facility (office)
$46.09
Facility
$15.70

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

How Q0091 has changed in Alabama

Q0091 · Office / nonfacility

$41.53

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.49 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $39.04 to $41.53 (6.4%).

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

    $39.04changed to$41.53

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.37 changed to 0.36
    • Practice expense RVU 0.95 changed to 0.99
    • Malpractice RVU 0.02 changed to 0.03
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.875
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.575 changed to 0.566

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $39.89changed to$39.04

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 0.94 changed to 0.95

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $39.24changed to$39.89

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $39.82changed to$39.24

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.90 changed to 0.94
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.878 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.748 changed to 0.575
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $40.51changed to$39.82

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.86 changed to 0.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.02
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.888 changed to 0.878
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.748

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $40.53changed to$40.51

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 0.85 changed to 0.86

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $40.11changed to$40.53

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.81 changed to 0.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.03 changed to 0.04
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.889 changed to 0.888
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.707 changed to 0.921

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $40.35changed to$40.11

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.82 changed to 0.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.03
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.890 changed to 0.889
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.707

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $41.26changed to$40.35

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.85 changed to 0.82

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$41.26

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. 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.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$41.53$14.93RVU26D
2026-07-01$41.53$14.93RVU26C
2026-04-01$41.53$14.93RVU26B
2026-01-01$41.53$14.93RVU26A
2025-10-01$39.04$16.56RVU25D
2025-07-01$39.04$16.56RVU25C
2025-04-01$39.04$16.56RVU25B
2025-01-01$39.04$16.56RVU25A
2024-10-01$39.89$17.04RVU24D
2024-07-01$39.89$17.04RVU24C
2024-04-01$39.89$17.04RVU24B
2024-03-09$39.89$17.04RVU24AR
2024-01-01$39.24$16.76RVU24A
2023-10-01$39.82$17.51RVU23D
2023-07-01$39.82$17.51RVU23C
2023-04-01$39.82$17.51RVU23B
2023-01-01$39.82$17.51RVU23A
2022-10-01$40.51$18.38RVU22D
2022-07-01$40.51$18.38RVU22C
2022-04-01$40.51$18.38RVU22B
2022-01-01$40.51$18.38RVU22A
2021-10-01$40.53$18.53RVU21D
2021-07-01$40.53$18.53RVU21C
2021-04-01$40.53$18.53RVU21B
2021-01-01$40.53$18.53RVU21A
2020-10-01$40.11$18.61RVU20D
2020-07-01$40.11$18.61RVU20C
2020-04-01$40.11$18.61RVU20B
2020-01-01$40.11$18.61RVU20A
2019-10-01$40.35$18.53RVU19D
2019-07-01$40.35$18.53RVU19C
2019-04-01$40.35$18.53RVU19B
2019-01-01$40.35$18.53RVU19A
2018-10-01$41.26$18.83RVU18D
2018-07-01$41.26$18.83RVU18C
2018-04-01$41.26$18.83RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price Q0091 for an earlier date of service

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

Browse all communities in Alabama

Q0091 billing questions

How is Q0091 different from G0101?

Q0091 represents collection and handling of the screening Pap specimen. G0101 represents a screening pelvic examination when that examination is performed and documented.

Does Q0091 include the laboratory's cytology interpretation?

No. Q0091 covers obtaining, preparing, and sending the specimen; the laboratory reports its cytology service under the applicable laboratory code.

Can Q0091 be reported for a diagnostic Pap test?

Q0091 is for obtaining a specimen for screening. When testing is performed to evaluate symptoms or a known abnormality, do not characterize that collection as screening.

What documentation supports Q0091?

Document the screening purpose, the cervical or vaginal specimen collection, and preparation and conveyance of the specimen to the laboratory.

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 Q0091PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 18,050 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AlabamaGPCI2026.csv, line 4 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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