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Billing code 38572: Laparoscopic lymphadenectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Report 38572 for laparoscopic bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy with para-aortic lymph node sampling, commonly performed for gynecologic cancer staging.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.4K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $825.67 for 38572 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 38572

Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy

Work RVUs
15.21
Total RVUs
24.72
Global days
010

National rate · 2026

$825.67

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 38572 →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 38572 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 38572 covers

A surgeon uses a laparoscope to remove pelvic lymph nodes on both sides and sample para-aortic nodes. The procedure is commonly performed by a gynecologic oncologist during laparoscopic staging or treatment of gynecologic malignancy, such as endometrial or cervical cancer. The operative report should make clear the pelvic dissection and para-aortic sampling performed; a limited node biopsy alone is a different service.

Report this code when the documented laparoscopic work includes both bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic sampling. The code is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery and co-surgeons; team surgery is 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 38572 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

38572 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$755.83
Alaska*Unavailable$1,050.20
ArizonaUnavailable$804.80
ArkansasUnavailable$747.33
AtlantaUnavailable$850.32
AustinUnavailable$828.33
BakersfieldUnavailable$818.32
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$872.98
BeaumontUnavailable$798.94
BrazoriaUnavailable$806.30

38572 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
38572 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 38572 rate is calculated

Each of 38572’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 · 38572

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work15.21

15.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.59

6.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice2.92

2.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

24.7200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$825.67

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 38572

38572 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 38572

Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)2Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)2Permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 38572

Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

38572 without 51 · national facility

$825.67

Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy

38572-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$412.84

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

38572 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 38572

    Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy15.21 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 38571

    Pelvic lymphadenectomy11.7 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 38570

    Laparoscopic node biopsy8.28 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 38562

    Pelvic lymphadenectomy10.78 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

38571Pelvic lymphadenectomy
Choose 38572 when para-aortic node sampling accompanies bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy. 38571 describes the pelvic dissection without that added para-aortic sampling.
38570Laparoscopic node biopsy
38570 describes laparoscopic retroperitoneal node sampling or biopsy. It does not represent the combined bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic sampling of 38572.
38562Pelvic lymphadenectomy
38562 is an open pelvic lymph node removal service. 38572 is for the specified laparoscopic pelvic dissection with para-aortic sampling.

Codes related to 38572

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

Codes related to 38572
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
38571Pelvic lymphadenectomyLaparoscopic bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy without the para-aortic sampling included in 38572.No office rate
38570Laparoscopic node biopsyLaparoscopic retroperitoneal node sampling or biopsy; a more limited service than 38572.No office rate
38573Laparoscopic lymphadenectomyRelated laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy code; distinguish by the operative scope documented.No office rate
Used instead
38562Pelvic lymphadenectomyOpen pelvic lymph node removal rather than the laparoscopic pelvic and para-aortic work of 38572.No office rate
38564Node dissectionOpen abdominal lymph node removal; the approach and documented dissection differ from 38572.No office rate

38572 billing questions

How does 38572 differ from 38571?

38572 includes para-aortic lymph node sampling in addition to bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy. Use 38571 when the documented procedure includes the bilateral pelvic dissection but not para-aortic sampling.

Can modifier 50 be added for the bilateral pelvic work?

No. CMS prices 38572 as bilateral, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.

Are related postoperative visits separately reportable?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery and permits co-surgeons for this code. Team surgery is not permitted.

What should the operative report establish?

Document laparoscopic bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic node sampling. A report describing only node sampling or biopsy does not establish the full scope of 38572.

What happens when related endoscopies are performed in the same session?

Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. Review the reported services and operative documentation in light of that pricing rule.

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 38572PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,755 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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