Billing code 78195: Lymphatic imagingMedicare rate & RVUs
Lymphoscintigraphy tracks radiotracer through lymphatic channels and nodes to evaluate lymphatic drainage, including lymphedema or sentinel-node mapping.
Medicare pays $311.63 for 78195 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $271.94–$433.07.
Medicare rate · 78195
Lymphatic imaging
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 1.17
- Total RVUs
- 9.33
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$311.63
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 78195 → · 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 78195 covers
This nuclear medicine study uses a radiotracer and gamma-camera images to show lymphatic drainage and regional nodes. It may help evaluate impaired drainage in a patient with suspected lymphedema or map sentinel nodes before cancer surgery, such as for breast cancer or melanoma. A nuclear medicine physician or radiologist typically interprets the images; imaging is performed in a nuclear medicine department or other equipped facility.
Report 78195 for imaging of the lymphatic system, rather than a study focused on the spleen or bone marrow. Documentation should identify the clinical indication, tracer and injection site when known, images obtained, and interpretation of lymphatic flow or nodal drainage. For sentinel-node work, 38792 may represent the tracer injection when that service is performed and documented. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for interpretation, modifier TC for equipment and staff, or neither for the global 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 78195 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
$271.94 to $433.07
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $276.43 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $347.00 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $302.77 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $271.94 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $316.79 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $326.88 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $336.75 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $332.75 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $287.17 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $308.71 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $318.01 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $328.50 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $333.89 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $310.38 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $362.02 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $308.23 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $304.74 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $293.85 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $336.42 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $318.09 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $307.74 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $309.43 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $346.92 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $311.44 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $288.18 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $290.11 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $286.56 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $284.00 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $281.47 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $361.20 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $359.84 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $364.99 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $295.14 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $324.07 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $298.73 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $328.27 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $316.84 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $273.30 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $311.62 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $397.79 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $288.64 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $311.29 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $322.20 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $290.05 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $296.27 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $292.29 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $309.45 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $357.36 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $368.10 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $288.27 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $282.04 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $360.28 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $341.16 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $339.70 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $314.53 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $364.69 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $301.65 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $283.30 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $290.31 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $280.56 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $288.73 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $314.95 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $325.76 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $288.71 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $274.43 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $338.29 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $297.10 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $309.46 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $289.38 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $297.56 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $325.51 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $320.85 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $337.61 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $355.16 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $353.89 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $363.82 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $423.59 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $423.47 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $433.07 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $432.56 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $347.96 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $368.55 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $355.65 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $372.40 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $373.95 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $290.64 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $309.19 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $307.85 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $322.00 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $285.46 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $295.12 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $397.61 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $307.13 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $314.53 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $305.98 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $336.40 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $277.99 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $297.80 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $310.68 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $336.40 | Unavailable |
78195 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.
$271.94
$384.74
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 | $347.00 | 1 |
| AL | $276.43 | 1 |
| AR | $271.94 | 1 |
| AZ | $302.77 | 1 |
| CA | $336.40–$433.07 | 29 |
| CO | $328.50 | 1 |
| CT | $333.89 | 1 |
| DC | $362.02 | 1 |
| DE | $308.23 | 1 |
| FL | $301.65–$328.27 | 3 |
| GA | $283.30–$316.79 | 2 |
| GU | $346.92 | 1 |
| HI | $346.92 | 1 |
| IA | $286.56 | 1 |
| ID | $288.18 | 1 |
| IL | $290.31–$322.00 | 4 |
| IN | $290.11 | 1 |
| KS | $284.00 | 1 |
| KY | $281.47 | 1 |
| LA | $280.56–$296.27 | 2 |
| MA | $325.76–$364.99 | 2 |
| MD | $314.95–$362.02 | 3 |
| ME | $288.73–$307.85 | 2 |
| MI | $288.71–$304.74 | 2 |
| MN | $316.84 | 1 |
| MO | $274.43–$298.73 | 3 |
| MS | $273.30 | 1 |
| MT | $311.62 | 1 |
| NC | $292.29 | 1 |
| ND | $309.45 | 1 |
| NE | $288.64 | 1 |
| NH | $322.20 | 1 |
| NJ | $338.29–$357.36 | 2 |
| NM | $290.05 | 1 |
| NV | $311.29 | 1 |
| NY | $297.10–$368.10 | 5 |
| OH | $288.27 | 1 |
| OK | $282.04 | 1 |
| OR | $309.46–$341.16 | 2 |
| PA | $289.38–$324.07 | 2 |
| PR | $314.53 | 1 |
| RI | $320.85 | 1 |
| SC | $290.64 | 1 |
| SD | $309.19 | 1 |
| TN | $285.46 | 1 |
| TX | $287.17–$326.88 | 8 |
| UT | $295.12 | 1 |
| VA | $305.98–$362.02 | 2 |
| VI | $314.53 | 1 |
| VT | $307.13 | 1 |
| WA | $325.51–$373.95 | 2 |
| WI | $297.80 | 1 |
| WV | $277.99 | 1 |
| WY | $310.68 | 1 |
How the 78195 rate is calculated
Each of 78195’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 · 78195
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.17Practice expense 8.05Malpractice 0.11
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78195
The CMS indicators that decide how 78195 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78195
Lymphatic imaging
| 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
78195 without 26 · national office
$311.63
Lymphatic imaging
78195-26 · Professional component
$53.44
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78195 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
78195 vs 38792 vs 78185 vs 78199: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 38792Sentinel node injection
- This represents the radioactive tracer injection used for sentinel-node identification; 78195 represents the subsequent lymphatic imaging.
- 78185Spleen imaging
- 78185 evaluates the spleen. Choose 78195 when the study images lymphatic channels or nodal drainage.
- 78199Unlstd hematop ret/endo lymp
- 78199 is an unlisted code for a hematopoietic, reticuloendothelial, or lymphatic procedure without a specific code; use 78195 when the service is lymphoscintigraphy.
78195 billing questions
When is 78195 used for sentinel-node mapping?
Use it for the imaging that follows radiotracer administration to visualize lymphatic drainage and sentinel nodes. The injection procedure may be reported separately with 38792 when performed and documented.
Which modifier identifies the interpretation?
Append modifier 26 for the professional interpretation. Modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff; no modifier represents the global service.
Does 78195 describe the tracer injection?
It describes lymphatic imaging. A separately performed radioactive tracer injection for sentinel-node identification may be represented by 38792.
How does 78195 differ from spleen imaging 78185?
78195 follows lymphatic drainage and nodes. 78185 is a spleen imaging study, not a substitute for lymphoscintigraphy.
What documentation supports 78195?
Record the indication, tracer and injection details available, imaging performed, and the interpreting clinician’s findings on lymphatic flow or nodal drainage.
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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