CPT code 78215: Liver-spleen scan2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Static nuclear medicine imaging of the liver and spleen evaluates their distribution and appearance without a vascular-flow imaging phase.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities640 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $178.36 for 78215 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $154.67–$249.76.

Medicare rate · 78215

Liver-spleen scan

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.48
Total RVUs
5.34
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$178.36

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 78215 →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.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 78215 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 78215 covers

A nuclear medicine technologist administers the radiopharmaceutical and acquires static images of the liver and spleen; a nuclear medicine physician interprets the study. Clinicians may use it to assess the distribution and appearance of these organs, including evaluation for suspected ectopic splenic tissue or splenic tissue after splenectomy. The study is performed in a nuclear medicine department and is distinguished by static imaging rather than a vascular-flow phase.

Report this code when the examination images both the liver and spleen using static acquisitions. The order and report should support imaging of both organs and document the study performed; a liver-only examination or one that includes vascular-flow imaging points to a different code. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation and report, TC for equipment and staff, or neither modifier when billing 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 78215 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

$154.67 to $249.76

$154.67$202.21$249.76
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

78215 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$157.35Unavailable
Alaska$195.73Unavailable
Arizona$173.06Unavailable
Arkansas$154.67Unavailable
Atlanta, GA$181.44Unavailable
Austin, TX$187.41Unavailable
Bakersfield, CA$193.11Unavailable
Baltimore area, MD$190.85Unavailable
Beaumont, TX$163.80Unavailable
Brazoria, TX$176.53Unavailable

78215 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.

$154.67

$221.33

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

View every state and territory as a table
78215 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$195.731
AL$157.351
AR$154.671
AZ$173.061
CA$192.91–$249.7629
CO$188.281
CT$191.491
DC$207.971
DE$176.281
FL$172.50–$188.503
GA$161.53–$181.442
GU$199.301
HI$199.301
IA$163.351
ID$164.331
IL$165.76–$184.604
IN$165.481
KS$161.841
KY$160.401
LA$159.86–$169.242
MA$186.62–$209.802
MD$180.25–$207.973
ME$164.68–$176.062
MI$164.74–$174.372
MN$181.351
MO$156.22–$170.693
MS$155.511
MT$178.361
NC$166.801
ND$176.971
NE$164.591
NH$184.631
NJ$193.95–$205.132
NM$165.551
NV$178.131
NY$169.67–$211.635
OH$164.461
OK$160.721
OR$177.03–$195.782
PA$165.11–$185.662
PR$180.091
RI$183.691
SC$165.851
SD$176.811
TN$162.721
TX$163.80–$187.418
UT$168.521
VA$174.95–$207.972
VI$180.091
VT$175.611
WA$186.49–$215.052
WI$170.021
WV$158.411
WY$177.751

How the 78215 rate is calculated

Each of 78215’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 · 78215

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.48

0.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.79

4.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.3400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$178.36

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 78215

The CMS indicators that decide how 78215 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78215

Liver-spleen scan

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

78215 without 26 · national office

$178.36

Liver-spleen scan

78215-26 · Professional component

$22.71

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

78215 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 78215

    Liver-spleen scan0.48 wRVU

    $178.36

  • 78216

    Liver-spleen scan0.56 wRVU

    $131.93−$46.43

  • 78201

    Liver imaging0.43 wRVU

    $171.68−$6.68

  • 78226

    Hepatobiliary imaging0.72 wRVU

    $284.91+$106.55

How to choose

78216Liver-spleen scan
Both codes image the liver and spleen; 78216 includes vascular-flow imaging, while 78215 is for static images only.
78201Liver imaging
78201 is limited to static liver imaging. Choose 78215 when the examination images both the liver and spleen.
78226Hepatobiliary imaging
78226 is hepatobiliary system imaging; 78215 is static imaging of the liver and spleen.

78215 billing questions

When should 78215 be chosen over 78216?

Use 78215 for static liver and spleen images without vascular-flow imaging. Use 78216 when the examination includes vascular-flow imaging.

How does 78215 differ from 78201?

78215 covers static imaging of both the liver and spleen. 78201 is for static liver imaging alone.

Which modifier reports the interpretation?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and report. Use TC for the technical service, or bill without a modifier when billing the global service.

What documentation supports reporting 78215?

The record should support imaging of both the liver and spleen and identify the static examination performed. The report should reflect the organs imaged and the findings.

Is this the same type of study as hepatobiliary imaging?

No. 78215 images the liver and spleen, while 78226 evaluates the hepatobiliary system.

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 78215PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,263 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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