Billing code 47543: Biliary biopsyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports percutaneous tissue sampling from inside the biliary tree, such as biopsy of a duct lesion or stricture during a biliary intervention.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities479 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $373.76 for 47543 nationally in the office and $122.92 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $331.06–$496.48.

Medicare rate · 47543

Biliary biopsy

Work RVUs
2.93
Total RVUs
11.19
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$373.76

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 47543 →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 47543 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 47543 covers

An interventional radiologist or other qualified physician obtains tissue from within the bile ducts through percutaneous biliary access. Sampling may use a brush, forceps, needle, or another method, and may target a suspicious duct lesion or a stricture being evaluated for a cause. The code covers single or multiple samples; the route is through the skin rather than through the gastrointestinal tract.

Select this service when tissue biopsy of the biliary tree is performed, not merely diagnostic inspection or cytology collection by brushing or washing. Document the biliary site sampled, the percutaneous route, the biopsy method, and the clinical reason for tissue evaluation. This is an add-on code: report it only with a primary procedure, and CMS payment falls within that primary procedure’s global period. The primary procedure and biopsy should be supported by the operative or procedure record.

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 47543 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

$331.06 to $496.48

$331.06$413.77$496.48
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

47543 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$335.86$116.38
Alaska*$434.96$167.81
Arizona$363.96$120.89
Arkansas$331.06$115.59
Atlanta$380.50$125.65
Austin$388.06$122.67
Bakersfield$396.73$121.81
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$397.27$128.12
Beaumont$349.14$120.87
Brazoria$369.73$121.15

47543 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.

$331.06

$446.11

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

View every state and territory as a table
47543 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$434.961
AL$335.861
AR$331.061
AZ$363.961
CA$395.73–$496.4829
CO$389.471
CT$398.421
DC$427.431
DE$369.951
FL$367.65–$401.473
GA$347.27–$380.502
GU$405.401
HI$405.401
IA$344.601
ID$346.761
IL$356.92–$390.104
IN$348.761
KS$342.861
KY$343.421
LA$342.83–$359.632
MA$387.12–$427.942
MD$377.01–$427.433
ME$348.40–$367.312
MI$352.13–$372.052
MN$373.681
MO$336.92–$361.063
MS$334.061
MT$373.731
NC$352.031
ND$367.211
NE$346.511
NH$383.241
NJ$403.11–$423.052
NM$353.991
NV$372.181
NY$357.24–$439.535
OH$350.801
OK$342.961
OR$369.42–$401.902
PA$351.43–$388.502
PR$376.501
RI$383.171
SC$351.971
SD$366.441
TN$344.551
TX$349.14–$388.068
UT$356.741
VA$366.01–$427.432
VI$376.501
VT$365.661
WA$386.43–$436.762
WI$355.001
WV$343.811
WY$370.891

How the 47543 rate is calculated

Each of 47543’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 · 47543

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work2.93

2.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.93

7.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.33

0.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.1900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$373.76

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 47543

The CMS indicators that decide how 47543 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 47543

Biliary 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)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

47543 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 47543

    Biliary biopsy2.93 wRVU

    $373.76

  • 47552

    Biliary endoscopy5.88 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 47542

    Biliary dilation2.78 wRVU

    $475.96+$102.20

  • 47544

    Biliary stone removal3.2 wRVU

    $792.60+$418.84

How to choose

47552Biliary endoscopy
47552 describes diagnostic percutaneous biliary endoscopy with optional brushing or washing. Choose 47543 when tissue biopsy is performed.
47542Biliary dilation
47542 is for dilation of a biliary duct or the ampulla. It does not describe tissue sampling, though dilation and biopsy may occur in one session.
47544Biliary stone removal
47544 addresses removal of calculi from the bile duct or gallbladder. Use 47543 for tissue sampling, not stone removal.

47543 billing questions

When should this code be selected instead of 47552?

Use 47543 for tissue biopsy from within the biliary tree. Code 47552 describes percutaneous diagnostic biliary endoscopy with or without brushing or washing for specimen collection.

Can 47543 be reported by itself?

No. CMS identifies it as an add-on code that must be billed with a primary procedure; payment is within that procedure’s global period.

Does one code cover multiple biopsy samples?

Yes. The code covers single or multiple samples, so the number of tissue bites or specimens does not by itself determine the code.

What documentation supports reporting the biopsy?

Document the percutaneous biliary route, the duct site or lesion sampled, the sampling method, and the reason tissue was obtained.

Is brushing or washing alone enough to report 47543?

No. The service is for endoluminal tissue biopsy. Brushing or washing for specimen collection during diagnostic biliary endoscopy is described by 47552.

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 47543PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,695 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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