Billing code 78122: Blood volume testMedicare rate & RVUs
A nuclear medicine blood volume study measures circulating whole blood volume when a clinician needs a direct assessment beyond routine blood counts.
Medicare pays $101.20 for 78122 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $88.32–$139.24.
Medicare rate · 78122
Blood volume test
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.44
- Total RVUs
- 3.03
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$101.20
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 78122 → · 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 78122 covers
This study uses a tracer-dilution technique to estimate circulating whole blood volume from patient samples and measurement of the tracer. It is typically performed in a hospital nuclear medicine department, with a nuclear medicine technologist handling the technical procedure and a physician interpreting the results. Clinicians may request it when evaluating suspected abnormalities in circulating blood volume, including certain hematologic disorders.
Report 78122 when the service determines whole blood volume, rather than only plasma volume or red cell mass. The record should support the clinical reason for testing, the tracer and sampling procedure performed, the measurements used, and the physician’s interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for the equipment and staff portion, or neither modifier when billing the global service. CMS separately prices the 26 and TC services.
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 78122 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
$88.32 to $139.24
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $89.77 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $113.15 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $98.30 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $88.32 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $103.00 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $105.91 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $108.81 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $108.08 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $93.46 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $100.12 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $104.33 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $106.35 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $108.43 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $100.71 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $117.27 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $100.06 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $99.62 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $96.48 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $108.65 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $103.92 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $99.90 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $100.39 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $111.94 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $101.48 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $93.39 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $94.01 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $92.81 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $92.10 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $91.65 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $116.60 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $117.01 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $117.98 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $96.00 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $105.32 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $97.15 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $107.73 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $102.24 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $88.94 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $101.20 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $128.02 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $93.45 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $100.95 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $104.42 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $94.59 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $96.49 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $94.82 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $100.01 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $115.79 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $119.83 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $93.87 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $91.72 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $116.24 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $110.31 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $110.31 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $102.10 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $118.41 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $98.49 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $92.46 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $94.98 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $91.40 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $93.69 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $102.20 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $105.51 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $94.11 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $89.49 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $109.76 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $96.38 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $100.27 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $94.17 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $96.70 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $105.40 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $104.06 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $109.29 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $114.58 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $114.17 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $117.29 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $136.16 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $136.10 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $139.24 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $138.96 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $112.27 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $118.75 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $114.71 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $119.98 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $120.76 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $94.48 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $99.87 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $99.70 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $105.14 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $92.59 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $95.93 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $127.92 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $99.37 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $102.10 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $99.18 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $108.64 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $91.00 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $96.27 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $100.68 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $108.64 | Unavailable |
78122 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.
$88.32
$123.94
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 | $113.15 | 1 |
| AL | $89.77 | 1 |
| AR | $88.32 | 1 |
| AZ | $98.30 | 1 |
| CA | $108.64–$139.24 | 29 |
| CO | $106.35 | 1 |
| CT | $108.43 | 1 |
| DC | $117.27 | 1 |
| DE | $100.06 | 1 |
| FL | $98.49–$107.73 | 3 |
| GA | $92.46–$103.00 | 2 |
| GU | $111.94 | 1 |
| HI | $111.94 | 1 |
| IA | $92.81 | 1 |
| ID | $93.39 | 1 |
| IL | $94.98–$105.14 | 4 |
| IN | $94.01 | 1 |
| KS | $92.10 | 1 |
| KY | $91.65 | 1 |
| LA | $91.40–$96.49 | 2 |
| MA | $105.51–$117.98 | 2 |
| MD | $102.20–$117.27 | 3 |
| ME | $93.69–$99.70 | 2 |
| MI | $94.11–$99.62 | 2 |
| MN | $102.24 | 1 |
| MO | $89.49–$97.15 | 3 |
| MS | $88.94 | 1 |
| MT | $101.20 | 1 |
| NC | $94.82 | 1 |
| ND | $100.01 | 1 |
| NE | $93.45 | 1 |
| NH | $104.42 | 1 |
| NJ | $109.76–$115.79 | 2 |
| NM | $94.59 | 1 |
| NV | $100.95 | 1 |
| NY | $96.38–$119.83 | 5 |
| OH | $93.87 | 1 |
| OK | $91.72 | 1 |
| OR | $100.27–$110.31 | 2 |
| PA | $94.17–$105.32 | 2 |
| PR | $102.10 | 1 |
| RI | $104.06 | 1 |
| SC | $94.48 | 1 |
| SD | $99.87 | 1 |
| TN | $92.59 | 1 |
| TX | $93.46–$105.91 | 8 |
| UT | $95.93 | 1 |
| VA | $99.18–$117.27 | 2 |
| VI | $102.10 | 1 |
| VT | $99.37 | 1 |
| WA | $105.40–$120.76 | 2 |
| WI | $96.27 | 1 |
| WV | $91.00 | 1 |
| WY | $100.68 | 1 |
How the 78122 rate is calculated
Each of 78122’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 · 78122
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.44Practice expense 2.53Malpractice 0.06
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78122
The CMS indicators that decide how 78122 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78122
Blood volume test
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
78122 without 26 · national office
$101.20
Blood volume test
78122-26 · Professional component
$20.71
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78122 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
78122 vs 78110 vs 78111 vs 78120: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 78110Plasma volume
- Choose 78110 when the study determines plasma volume alone; 78122 is for determination of whole blood volume.
- 78111Plasma volume
- 78111 is the multiple-sample plasma volume service. It does not represent whole blood volume determination.
- 78120Red cell mass
- 78120 determines red cell mass. Report 78122 when the study determines whole blood volume instead.
78122 billing questions
How is 78122 different from a plasma volume study?
78122 determines whole blood volume. Use a plasma volume code when the measured quantity is plasma volume alone.
How is 78122 different from red cell mass testing?
78122 measures whole blood volume; red cell mass codes concern the circulating red cell component. Select the code that matches the quantity actually determined.
When should modifier 26 or TC be reported?
Use modifier 26 for the physician’s interpretation and report, or TC for the technical service involving equipment and staff. Bill without either modifier for the global service.
What documentation supports 78122?
Document the clinical indication, tracer and sampling procedure, measurements used to determine whole blood volume, and the interpreting physician’s findings.
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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