Billing code 60661: Nodule ablationMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports percutaneous image-guided ablation of each thyroid nodule beyond the first treated, in addition to primary procedure code 60660.
Medicare pays $409.16 for 60661 nationally in the office and $190.39 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $363.04–$523.22.
Medicare rate · 60661
Nodule ablation
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 4.14
- Total RVUs
- 12.25
- Global days
- ZZZ
National rate · 2026
$409.16
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 60661 → · 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 60661 covers
This add-on describes treatment of an additional thyroid nodule during a percutaneous ablation procedure. Clinicians experienced in image-guided thyroid procedures, including interventional radiologists and endocrine surgeons, may treat symptomatic benign nodules that cause pressure or swallowing symptoms, or are cosmetically bothersome. Radiofrequency is a commonly used ablation method. Imaging guidance is part of the service.
Report 60661 for each additional nodule treated beyond the initial nodule reported with 60660. The procedure note should support the number of distinct nodules treated, their location, and the ablation performed. Because this is an add-on code, it is billed only with the primary procedure; CMS pays it within that procedure’s global period. Do not separately report imaging guidance included in the ablation service.
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 60661 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
$363.04 to $523.22
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $368.18 | $176.75 |
| Alaska* | $484.06 | $251.07 |
| Arizona | $398.16 | $186.17 |
| Arkansas | $363.04 | $175.11 |
| Atlanta | $418.17 | $195.90 |
| Austin | $421.18 | $189.72 |
| Bakersfield | $426.57 | $186.79 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $434.93 | $200.18 |
| Beaumont | $385.22 | $186.13 |
| Brazoria | $402.97 | $186.16 |
| Chicago | $441.21 | $221.34 |
| Chico | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Colorado | $421.63 | $188.86 |
| Connecticut | $435.85 | $200.23 |
| Dallas | $406.14 | $188.24 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $463.35 | $205.63 |
| Delaware | $404.55 | $188.40 |
| Detroit | $416.30 | $205.18 |
| East St. Louis | $412.70 | $211.43 |
| El Centro | $424.73 | $184.95 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $431.00 | $209.38 |
| Fort Worth | $403.96 | $188.25 |
| Fresno | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Galveston | $404.57 | $187.32 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $433.41 | $184.66 |
| Houston | $417.20 | $199.95 |
| Idaho | $377.19 | $175.91 |
| Indiana | $379.22 | $176.42 |
| Iowa | $374.20 | $174.02 |
| Kansas | $373.94 | $176.16 |
| Kentucky | $379.69 | $185.20 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $452.44 | $193.63 |
| Madera | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Manhattan | $471.67 | $217.45 |
| Merced | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $460.38 | $199.16 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $393.51 | $188.08 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $426.26 | $198.51 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $397.31 | $189.04 |
| Miami | $454.56 | $226.81 |
| Minnesota | $400.12 | $175.00 |
| Mississippi | $368.70 | $180.33 |
| Modesto | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Montana** | $409.11 | $190.34 |
| Napa | $485.35 | $197.00 |
| Nebraska | $375.74 | $173.81 |
| Nevada** | $405.56 | $186.57 |
| New Hampshire | $416.44 | $188.70 |
| New Mexico | $393.22 | $192.61 |
| New Orleans | $397.67 | $191.81 |
| North Carolina | $384.24 | $180.12 |
| North Dakota** | $395.47 | $176.70 |
| Northern Nj | $459.09 | $205.31 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $484.60 | $224.48 |
| Ohio | $387.78 | $188.04 |
| Oklahoma | $377.50 | $182.14 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $449.45 | $190.86 |
| Portland | $432.98 | $189.92 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $443.77 | $204.21 |
| Puerto Rico | $411.54 | $190.36 |
| Queens | $473.30 | $214.71 |
| Redding | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Rest Of California | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Rest Of Florida | $409.85 | $200.70 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $386.82 | $191.67 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $400.57 | $200.83 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $379.69 | $186.08 |
| Rest Of Maine | $380.62 | $179.35 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $411.63 | $190.23 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $419.83 | $189.46 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $390.57 | $190.83 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $374.36 | $185.78 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $439.73 | $200.83 |
| Rest Of New York | $389.92 | $182.09 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $401.32 | $183.42 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $387.57 | $186.73 |
| Rest Of Texas | $394.29 | $186.67 |
| Rest Of Washington | $418.59 | $188.21 |
| Rhode Island | $417.48 | $191.48 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $432.05 | $192.28 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $443.84 | $189.41 |
| Salinas | $442.16 | $188.60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $451.33 | $189.67 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $511.44 | $202.97 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $510.66 | $202.18 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $523.22 | $207.75 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $520.02 | $204.54 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $435.27 | $186.08 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $454.66 | $188.84 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $443.48 | $188.39 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $459.12 | $190.47 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $468.12 | $199.68 |
| South Carolina | $386.87 | $184.72 |
| South Dakota** | $393.86 | $175.08 |
| Southern Maine | $398.43 | $181.62 |
| Stockton | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| Suburban Chicago | $434.61 | $209.93 |
| Tennessee | $375.94 | $177.07 |
| Utah | $391.94 | $186.29 |
| Vallejo | $484.22 | $195.87 |
| Vermont | $395.30 | $178.71 |
| Virgin Islands | $411.54 | $190.36 |
| Virginia | $398.17 | $183.12 |
| Visalia | $424.61 | $184.83 |
| West Virginia | $386.63 | $196.51 |
| Wisconsin | $382.80 | $173.22 |
| Wyoming** | $403.17 | $184.39 |
| Yuba City | $424.61 | $184.83 |
60661 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.
$363.04
$484.06
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 | $484.06 | 1 |
| AL | $368.18 | 1 |
| AR | $363.04 | 1 |
| AZ | $398.16 | 1 |
| CA | $424.61–$523.22 | 29 |
| CO | $421.63 | 1 |
| CT | $435.85 | 1 |
| DC | $463.35 | 1 |
| DE | $404.55 | 1 |
| FL | $409.85–$454.56 | 3 |
| GA | $386.82–$418.17 | 2 |
| GU | $433.41 | 1 |
| HI | $433.41 | 1 |
| IA | $374.20 | 1 |
| ID | $377.19 | 1 |
| IL | $400.57–$441.21 | 4 |
| IN | $379.22 | 1 |
| KS | $373.94 | 1 |
| KY | $379.69 | 1 |
| LA | $379.69–$397.67 | 2 |
| MA | $419.83–$460.38 | 2 |
| MD | $411.63–$463.35 | 3 |
| ME | $380.62–$398.43 | 2 |
| MI | $390.57–$416.30 | 2 |
| MN | $400.12 | 1 |
| MO | $374.36–$397.31 | 3 |
| MS | $368.70 | 1 |
| MT | $409.11 | 1 |
| NC | $384.24 | 1 |
| ND | $395.47 | 1 |
| NE | $375.74 | 1 |
| NH | $416.44 | 1 |
| NJ | $439.73–$459.09 | 2 |
| NM | $393.22 | 1 |
| NV | $405.56 | 1 |
| NY | $389.92–$484.60 | 5 |
| OH | $387.78 | 1 |
| OK | $377.50 | 1 |
| OR | $401.32–$432.98 | 2 |
| PA | $387.57–$426.26 | 2 |
| PR | $411.54 | 1 |
| RI | $417.48 | 1 |
| SC | $386.87 | 1 |
| SD | $393.86 | 1 |
| TN | $375.94 | 1 |
| TX | $385.22–$421.18 | 8 |
| UT | $391.94 | 1 |
| VA | $398.17–$463.35 | 2 |
| VI | $411.54 | 1 |
| VT | $395.30 | 1 |
| WA | $418.59–$468.12 | 2 |
| WI | $382.80 | 1 |
| WV | $386.63 | 1 |
| WY | $403.17 | 1 |
How the 60661 rate is calculated
Each of 60661’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 · 60661
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 4.14Practice expense 7.42Malpractice 0.69
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 60661
The CMS indicators that decide how 60661 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 60661
Nodule ablation
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
60661 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
60661 vs 60660 vs 10005 vs 60220: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 60660Thyroid ablation
- 60660 reports the primary ablation, including the first nodule; 60661 reports each additional nodule treated in that procedure.
- 10005Ultrasound-guided FNA
- 10005 describes image-guided fine-needle aspiration for sampling a lesion. It is diagnostic sampling, not ablation of the nodule.
- 60220Thyroid lobectomy
- 60220 describes surgical removal of one thyroid lobe, while 60661 is an add-on for percutaneous ablation of an additional nodule.
60661 billing questions
When is 60661 reported instead of 60660?
60660 reports the primary ablation, including the first nodule. Report 60661 for each additional nodule treated.
Can 60661 be billed by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with primary procedure code 60660.
How many units of 60661 are reported?
Report one unit for each additional thyroid nodule ablated beyond the first. Document the distinct nodules treated.
Can imaging guidance be billed separately?
Imaging guidance is included in the ablation service described by this code, so it is not separately reported for that guidance.
What documentation supports 60661?
The procedure note should identify the number and location of the nodules treated and describe the percutaneous ablation performed.
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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