CPT code 10009: FNA biopsy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports CT-guided fine-needle aspiration of the initial lesion when a clinician uses imaging to direct needle sampling for cytologic evaluation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.7K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $412.50 for 10009 nationally in the office and $93.19 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $362.06–$563.47.

Medicare rate · 10009

FNA biopsy

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
2.2
Total RVUs
12.35
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$412.50

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 10009 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 10009 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 10009 covers

A clinician advances a fine needle into a lesion while using CT images to plan and guide sampling. The needle collects cells or fluid for cytologic evaluation rather than a core of tissue. Radiologists and interventional radiologists commonly perform this service for lesions that need image-guided access, such as a lung or deep soft-tissue mass, in an outpatient imaging department or hospital setting.

Report 10009 for the first lesion sampled with CT guidance. For another distinct lesion sampled during the same session with CT guidance, use the applicable additional-lesion code rather than reporting another first-lesion service. The record should identify the target lesion or site, CT guidance, and the aspiration sampling performed. CT guidance is part of this service; cytology interpretation is a separate service when performed and appropriately reported. Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure in the same session is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.

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 10009 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 payment localities

$362.06 to $563.47

$362.06$462.76$563.47
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

10009 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$367.75$88.35
Alaska$467.33$127.26
Arizona$401.12$91.71
Arkansas$362.06$87.77
Atlanta, GA$419.57$95.15
Austin, TX$430.99$93.16
Bakersfield, CA$442.70$92.74
Baltimore area, MD$439.69$97.06
Beaumont, TX$382.14$91.56
Brazoria, TX$408.42$91.98

10009 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.

$362.06

$502.73

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

View every state and territory as a table
10009 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$467.331
AL$367.751
AR$362.061
AZ$401.121
CA$441.99–$563.4729
CO$432.911
CT$441.101
DC$476.321
DE$408.121
FL$401.79–$437.833
GA$378.19–$419.572
GU$454.661
HI$454.661
IA$379.711
ID$381.951
IL$388.00–$427.894
IN$384.361
KS$376.881
KY$375.071
LA$374.07–$394.002
MA$429.68–$478.952
MD$416.58–$476.323
ME$383.09–$406.682
MI$384.67–$406.172
MN$416.701
MO$366.58–$396.613
MS$364.441
MT$412.491
NC$387.531
ND$407.941
NE$382.211
NH$425.131
NJ$446.67–$470.672
NM$386.541
NV$411.551
NY$393.65–$486.415
OH$383.741
OK$375.331
OR$408.89–$448.492
PA$384.91–$428.892
PR$416.031
RI$424.001
SC$386.171
SD$407.401
TN$378.791
TX$382.14–$430.998
UT$391.841
VA$404.61–$476.322
VI$416.031
VT$405.391
WA$429.18–$489.982
WI$393.271
WV$372.411
WY$410.501

How the 10009 rate is calculated

Each of 10009’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 · 10009

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.20

2.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.92

9.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.23

0.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

12.3500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$412.50

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 10009

The CMS indicators that decide how 10009 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 10009

FNA biopsy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

10009 without 51 · national office

$412.50

FNA biopsy

10009-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$206.25

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

10009 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 10009

    FNA biopsy2.2 wRVU

    $412.50

  • 10010

    Fine needle aspiration1.61 wRVU

    $235.14−$177.36

  • 10005

    Ultrasound-guided FNA1.42 wRVU

    $132.27−$280.23

  • 10021

    Fine needle aspiration1 wRVU

    $100.87−$311.63

How to choose

10010Fine needle aspiration
10009 is for the initial lesion sampled with CT guidance; 10010 is for each additional lesion sampled with CT guidance during the session.
10005Ultrasound-guided FNA
Both report image-guided FNA of the first lesion, but 10005 uses ultrasound guidance and 10009 uses CT guidance.
10021Fine needle aspiration
10021 is for first-lesion FNA without imaging guidance. Use 10009 when CT guides needle placement.

10009 billing questions

When should 10009 be selected instead of an unguided FNA code?

Use 10009 when CT images guide needle placement for the initial lesion. If the FNA is performed without imaging guidance, select the code for an unguided first-lesion FNA instead.

Does 10009 include the CT guidance?

Yes. The code represents the FNA biopsy with CT guidance, so the guidance for that sampling is included in the service.

How is a second lesion handled in the same session?

For another distinct lesion sampled with CT guidance during the session, report 10010 for the additional lesion rather than another 10009.

What documentation supports reporting 10009?

Document the target lesion or site, that CT was used to guide the needle, and that fine-needle aspiration sampling was performed.

How does the multiple procedure reduction affect payment?

When multiple procedures subject to the standard rule are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are paid at 50%.

Is cytology interpretation included in 10009?

10009 covers the CT-guided needle sampling, not interpretation of the specimen. Cytology may be reported separately when that service is performed and appropriately documented.

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 10009PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,065 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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