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Billing code 78232: Salivary gland studyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports a nuclear medicine study evaluating salivary gland function, including tracer uptake and secretion, rather than imaging anatomy alone.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities49 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $103.21 for 78232 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $90.25–$142.21.

Medicare rate · 78232

Salivary gland study

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0.46
Total RVUs
3.09
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$103.21

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 78232 → · 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 78232 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 78232 covers

This nuclear medicine study evaluates how the salivary glands take up and release a radiotracer. A technologist administers the tracer and acquires images; a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician interprets the functional findings. It may be ordered when a clinician is assessing impaired salivary function, such as persistent dry mouth or suspected gland dysfunction. A stimulation step may be used to assess secretion and clearance as part of the study protocol.

Report 78232 when the service performed is a functional assessment, not simply salivary gland imaging or serial imaging. The record should identify the indication, tracer and acquisition performed, any stimulation used, and the interpreting findings. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. The professional and technical components have separately priced modifiers in the CMS fee schedule.

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 78232 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

$90.25 to $142.21

$90.25$116.23$142.21
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

78232 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$91.71Unavailable
Alaska*$115.74Unavailable
Arizona$100.30Unavailable
Arkansas$90.25Unavailable
Atlanta$104.97Unavailable
Austin$108.05Unavailable
Bakersfield$111.12Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$110.14Unavailable
Beaumont$95.33Unavailable
Brazoria$102.19Unavailable

78232 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$90.25

$126.59

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

View every state and territory as a table
78232 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$115.741
AL$91.711
AR$90.251
AZ$100.301
CA$110.97–$142.2129
CO$108.541
CT$110.501
DC$119.571
DE$102.081
FL$100.26–$109.303
GA$94.22–$104.972
GU$114.311
HI$114.311
IA$94.881
ID$95.431
IL$96.65–$106.934
IN$96.061
KS$94.111
KY$93.501
LA$93.23–$98.352
MA$107.68–$120.372
MD$104.26–$119.573
ME$95.68–$101.822
MI$95.93–$101.342
MN$104.531
MO$91.27–$99.083
MS$90.791
MT$103.211
NC$96.831
ND$102.221
NE$95.531
NH$106.531
NJ$111.91–$118.082
NM$96.391
NV$103.021
NY$98.40–$121.915
OH$95.721
OK$93.621
OR$102.37–$112.592
PA$96.05–$107.342
PR$104.131
RI$106.161
SC$96.411
SD$102.101
TN$94.591
TX$95.33–$108.058
UT$97.871
VA$101.25–$119.572
VI$104.131
VT$101.521
WA$107.58–$123.232
WI$98.431
WV$92.641
WY$102.771

How the 78232 rate is calculated

Each of 78232’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 · 78232

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.46Practice expense 2.58Malpractice 0.05

3.0900 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$103.21

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 78232

The CMS indicators that decide how 78232 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78232

Salivary gland study

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

78232 without 26 · national office

$103.21

Salivary gland study

78232-26 · Professional component

$18.37

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

78232 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

78232 vs 78230 vs 78231 vs 78999: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 78232
    Salivary gland study · 0.46 wRVU
    $103.21
  • 78230
    Salivary imaging · 0.44 wRVU
    $157.99+$54.78
  • 78231
    Salivary imaging · 0.51 wRVU
    $104.88+$1.67
  • 78999
    · 0 wRVU
    —

How to choose

78230Salivary imaging
78230 describes salivary gland imaging. Use 78232 when the study evaluates gland function, such as tracer uptake and secretion.
78231Salivary imaging
78231 describes serial salivary gland imaging; 78232 is selected for a functional study rather than serial imaging alone.
78999Unlisted misc px dx nuc med
78999 is an unlisted diagnostic nuclear medicine code. Use the specific 78232 code when the performed service is a salivary gland function study.

Codes related to 78232

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 78232
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
78230Salivary imagingSalivary gland imaging without the functional-study focus of 78232.$136.98–$220.82
78231Salivary imagingSerial salivary gland imaging; distinguish it from a functional assessment.$91.92–$144.07
Used instead
78999Unlisted misc px dx nuc medUnlisted diagnostic nuclear medicine procedure when no specific listed code describes the service.No office rate

78232 billing questions

How does 78232 differ from 78230?

Use 78232 for a functional study assessing gland uptake or secretion. 78230 describes salivary gland imaging without that functional-study focus.

When is 78231 a closer fit?

78231 is for serial salivary gland imaging. Choose 78232 when the performed service is a functional assessment rather than serial imaging alone.

Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?

Yes. Report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What documentation supports reporting 78232?

Document the clinical reason for testing, the tracer and functional acquisition performed, any stimulation used, and the physician's interpretation of gland function.

Is 78232 reported per gland or per image?

The CMS facts provided do not specify a per-gland or per-image unit basis. Document the study performed and follow the code's applicable reporting instructions.

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 78232PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,281 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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