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Billing code 47001: Liver biopsyMedicare rate & RVUs

A surgeon obtains a needle sample of liver tissue during another major operation when intraoperative findings or clinical need warrant histologic evaluation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.5K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $92.52 for 47001 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 47001

Liver biopsy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
1.85
Total RVUs
2.77
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$92.52

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 47001 → · 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 47001 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 47001 covers

The surgeon takes a needle sample of liver tissue while performing a separate major operation. This service is used when liver tissue needs histologic assessment during that operation, such as when an abnormal-appearing liver is encountered during abdominal surgery. It is generally performed in the operating room by the surgeon carrying out the primary procedure.

Report 47001 only with the code for the primary major procedure; it is not a stand-alone liver biopsy code. Use 47000 for a percutaneous needle biopsy performed as the procedure itself, and 47100 when tissue is obtained by wedge excision rather than needle sampling. The operative report should identify the primary procedure, document that a needle biopsy was performed, and explain the clinical reason for sampling. CMS payment for this add-on falls within the primary procedure’s global period.

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 47001 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

47001 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$83.83
Alaska*Unavailable$117.34
ArizonaUnavailable$89.79
ArkansasUnavailable$82.79
AtlantaUnavailable$96.10
AustinUnavailable$91.73
BakersfieldUnavailable$89.00
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$98.33
BeaumontUnavailable$90.05
BrazoriaUnavailable$89.43

47001 rates by state

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

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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.

View every state and territory as a table
47001 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 47001 rate is calculated

Each of 47001’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 · 47001

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 1.85Practice expense 0.45Malpractice 0.47

2.7700 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$92.52

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 47001

The CMS indicators that decide how 47001 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 47001

Liver biopsy

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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

47001 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

47001 vs 47000 vs 47100 vs 47010: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 47001
    Liver biopsy · 1.85 wRVU
    —
  • 47000
    Liver biopsy · 1.61 wRVU
    $287.92
  • 47100
    Liver biopsy · 12.59 wRVU
    —
  • 47010
    Liver drainage · 18.92 wRVU
    —

How to choose

47000Liver biopsy
47000 is for a percutaneous needle biopsy performed as the procedure itself; 47001 is used when needle sampling occurs during another major operation.
47100Liver biopsy
Choose 47100 for wedge excision of liver tissue. Choose 47001 when the intraoperative sample is obtained with a needle.
47010Liver drainage
47010 addresses operative drainage of a liver abscess or cyst, not sampling liver tissue for biopsy.

Codes related to 47001

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

Codes related to 47001
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
47000Liver biopsyPercutaneous liver needle biopsy when sampling is performed as the procedure itself.$252.95–$392.18
47100Liver biopsyLiver tissue obtained by wedge excision rather than needle sampling.No office rate
Primary code
47562Laparoscopic cholecystectomyLaparoscopic gallbladder removal may be the primary operation for intraoperative liver needle sampling.No office rate
47600Gallbladder removalOpen gallbladder removal may be the primary operation for intraoperative liver needle sampling.No office rate

47001 billing questions

Can 47001 be billed without a primary procedure?

No. Report it only with the code for the primary major procedure performed during the same operation.

How do I choose between 47001 and 47000?

Use 47001 for needle sampling performed during another major operation. Use 47000 for a percutaneous needle biopsy performed as the procedure itself.

How does 47001 differ from 47100?

47001 describes needle sampling during another major procedure. 47100 is for obtaining liver tissue by wedge excision.

What documentation supports reporting 47001?

The operative report should identify the primary operation, confirm that a liver needle biopsy was performed, and document the reason for sampling.

How does the global period affect payment?

CMS treats 47001 as an add-on paid within the primary procedure’s global period.

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 47001PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,645 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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