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Billing code 19297: Radiation applicatorMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports placement of a temporary breast radiation applicator in the lumpectomy cavity during partial mastectomy for planned localized radiation treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities67 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $83.17 for 19297 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 19297

Radiation applicator

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
1.68
Total RVUs
2.49
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$83.17

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 19297 → · 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.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 19297 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 19297 covers

During breast-conserving surgery, the surgeon places a temporary radiation applicator in the cavity created by removing breast tissue. A balloon-style applicator is a common example. The placement prepares the cavity for later localized radiation; this code describes applicator placement, not radiation delivery. The procedure is performed in the operating room as part of the partial mastectomy, typically by the breast surgeon. Imaging guidance may be used during placement.

Select this code when the applicator is placed during the partial mastectomy, rather than in a later procedure. The operative report should establish the timing, placement in the lumpectomy cavity, and the associated primary procedure. Report this only as an add-on with a primary procedure. Under the CMS rule, payment falls within that primary procedure’s global period. Imaging guidance performed as part of the placement is included in the service; the code is not for radiation treatment itself.

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 19297 pays more and less

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

109 of 109 payment localities

19297 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$75.55
Alaska*Unavailable$105.94
ArizonaUnavailable$80.78
ArkansasUnavailable$74.64
AtlantaUnavailable$86.30
AustinUnavailable$82.49
BakersfieldUnavailable$80.16
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$88.29
BeaumontUnavailable$80.99
BrazoriaUnavailable$80.48

19297 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
19297 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 19297 rate is calculated

Each of 19297’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 · 19297

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 1.68Practice expense 0.40Malpractice 0.41

2.4900 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$83.17

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 19297

The CMS indicators that decide how 19297 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 19297

Radiation applicator

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
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.

19297 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

19297 vs 19296 vs 19298 vs 19301: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 19297
    Radiation applicator · 1.68 wRVU
    —
  • 19296
    Breast catheter placement · 3.54 wRVU
    $3,993.41
  • 19298
    Breast radiation catheter · 5.61 wRVU
    $851.39
  • 19301
    Partial mastectomy · 9.88 wRVU
    —

How to choose

19296Breast catheter placement
Choose 19297 when the applicator is placed during partial mastectomy; 19296 describes placement following that operation.
19298Breast radiation catheter
19298 is for interstitial catheters used for breast radiation. This code describes applicator placement in the lumpectomy cavity during partial mastectomy.
19301Partial mastectomy
19301 reports the partial mastectomy itself. This code reports the associated applicator placement as an add-on.

Codes related to 19297

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 19297
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
19301Partial mastectomyPartial mastectomy is a primary procedure that may be paired with concurrent applicator placement.No office rate
Same family
19296Breast catheter placementRelated applicator placement performed following, rather than during, partial mastectomy.$3,436.67–$5,692.01
Used instead
19298Breast radiation catheterFor interstitial breast radiation catheter placement rather than this applicator placement.$752.71–$1,152.18

19297 billing questions

How does this differ from 19296?

19297 describes applicator placement during the partial mastectomy. Use 19296 when placement occurs following the partial mastectomy.

Can 19297 be reported by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with a primary procedure; CMS payment falls within that procedure’s global period.

Is imaging guidance separately reported?

Imaging guidance performed as part of applicator placement is included in this service.

Does this code include the radiation treatment?

No. It covers placement of the applicator in the lumpectomy cavity, not delivery of radiation.

When is 19298 a better fit?

19298 describes placement of interstitial catheters for breast radiation. This code is for placement of a radiation applicator during partial mastectomy.

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 19297PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,683 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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