Billing code 32562: Pleural fibrinolysisMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports a subsequent-day instillation of a fibrinolytic agent through a chest tube or catheter to break up fibrin in the pleural space.
Medicare pays $91.85 for 32562 nationally in the office and $53.78 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $83.11–$115.10.
Medicare rate · 32562
Pleural fibrinolysis
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 1.21
- Total RVUs
- 2.75
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$91.85
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 32562 → · 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
What 32562 covers
This code covers a subsequent-day instillation of a fibrinolytic medication through an existing chest tube or pleural catheter to disrupt fibrin or loculations. It is used in situations such as a complex pleural effusion or empyema that is not draining adequately. A pulmonologist, thoracic surgeon, or other qualified clinician may perform the service in a hospital or other setting where pleural drainage is managed. The code includes imaging guidance and supervision and interpretation when performed.
Report this code for a subsequent service day, not for the initial day of fibrinolytic treatment, which is represented by 32561. Documentation should identify the pleural indication, catheter access, and the instillation performed that day. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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 32562 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
$83.11 to $115.10
109 of 109 payment localities
32562 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.
$83.11
$113.17
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 | $113.17 | 1 |
| AL | $84.08 | 1 |
| AR | $83.11 | 1 |
| AZ | $89.77 | 1 |
| CA | $95.05–$115.10 | 29 |
| CO | $94.40 | 1 |
| CT | $97.20 | 1 |
| DC | $102.91 | 1 |
| DE | $91.05 | 1 |
| FL | $91.96–$100.42 | 3 |
| GA | $87.60–$93.60 | 2 |
| GU | $96.48 | 1 |
| HI | $96.48 | 1 |
| IA | $85.23 | 1 |
| ID | $85.80 | 1 |
| IL | $90.20–$97.99 | 4 |
| IN | $86.18 | 1 |
| KS | $85.18 | 1 |
| KY | $86.26 | 1 |
| LA | $86.25–$89.66 | 2 |
| MA | $94.11–$102.17 | 2 |
| MD | $92.47–$102.91 | 3 |
| ME | $86.44–$89.83 | 2 |
| MI | $88.32–$93.18 | 2 |
| MN | $90.16 | 1 |
| MO | $85.24–$89.60 | 3 |
| MS | $84.17 | 1 |
| MT | $91.84 | 1 |
| NC | $87.13 | 1 |
| ND | $89.27 | 1 |
| NE | $85.53 | 1 |
| NH | $93.24 | 1 |
| NJ | $98.22–$102.23 | 2 |
| NM | $88.82 | 1 |
| NV | $91.17 | 1 |
| NY | $88.21–$107.06 | 5 |
| OH | $87.79 | 1 |
| OK | $85.84 | 1 |
| OR | $90.37–$96.62 | 2 |
| PA | $87.75–$95.35 | 2 |
| PR | $92.31 | 1 |
| RI | $93.71 | 1 |
| SC | $87.62 | 1 |
| SD | $88.97 | 1 |
| TN | $85.56 | 1 |
| TX | $87.31–$94.17 | 8 |
| UT | $88.58 | 1 |
| VA | $89.78–$102.91 | 2 |
| VI | $92.31 | 1 |
| VT | $89.24 | 1 |
| WA | $93.84–$103.77 | 2 |
| WI | $86.87 | 1 |
| WV | $87.55 | 1 |
| WY | $90.72 | 1 |
How the 32562 rate is calculated
Each of 32562’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 · 32562
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.21Practice expense 1.41Malpractice 0.13
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32562
The CMS indicators that decide how 32562 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 32562
Pleural fibrinolysis
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
32562 without 51 · national office
$91.85
Pleural fibrinolysis
32562-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$45.93
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%).
32562 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
32562 vs 32561 vs 32560 vs 32555: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 32561Pleural fibrinolysis
- Use 32561 for the initial day of pleural fibrinolytic instillation; 32562 is for a subsequent service day.
- 32560Chemical pleurodesis
- 32560 describes pleurodesis with an agent to promote pleural adhesion. 32562 describes fibrinolytic instillation to disrupt pleural fibrin or loculations.
- 32555Thoracentesis
- 32555 reports image-guided aspiration of pleural fluid. 32562 reports fibrinolytic medication instilled through a chest tube or catheter.
32562 billing questions
How is 32562 different from 32561?
32561 represents the initial day of pleural fibrinolytic instillation. Use 32562 for a subsequent service day.
Does 32562 include imaging guidance?
Yes. The code includes imaging guidance and supervision and interpretation when performed.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service.
What documentation supports reporting 32562?
Document the pleural condition being treated, the existing chest tube or catheter used, and the fibrinolytic instillation performed on the subsequent service day.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures performed in the same session are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.
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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