$208.72–$336.01
Choose 78800 when imaging is limited to one area on one day; 78801 covers multiple areas and permits imaging over one or more days.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
78800 Tumor imaging Medicare reimbursement rates
Reports planar radiopharmaceutical imaging to localize a tumor in one body area when imaging is performed on a single day. Compare 78800 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 78800?
The service location and office or facility setting determine which base rate applies. These are the supported base rates for the 109 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$200.89–$324.36
109 of 109 localities have a supported rate.
Lowest: Arkansas
Highest: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
A spread of $123.47 per service.
Facility setting
No supported rate
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Where 78800 pays more and less
109 payment localities
$200.89 to $324.36
Nuclear medicine
About 78800: Tumor localization imaging, single area
Reports planar radiopharmaceutical imaging to localize a tumor in one body area when imaging is performed on a single day.
This service covers planar nuclear medicine imaging after administration of a radiopharmaceutical to assess tumor location in one body area, such as a region of clinical concern in an oncology evaluation. A nuclear medicine technologist performs the acquisition, with interpretation by a qualified physician, commonly a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician. The study is selected when the examination covers one area and imaging occurs on one day, rather than multiple areas, whole-body imaging, or SPECT-based imaging.
The record should identify the clinical indication, radiopharmaceutical study, imaged area, acquisition method, and imaging date. Choose the code based on the study performed, not simply the number of images obtained. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for equipment and staff, or no component modifier when billing the global service. The physician’s report should support the diagnostic interpretation of the acquired images.
CMS billing rules for 78800
- Professional and technical components
- Diagnostic test with a professional component (modifier 26, interpretation) and a technical component (modifier TC, equipment and staff); billing without a modifier is the global service.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.62 · 9%
- Practice expense (office) RVU6.22 · 90%
- Malpractice RVU0.10 · 1%
5.7K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1785 by national volume
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.
78800 compared with similar codes
Office rate ranges across all CMS payment localities, from the same CMS release.
$292.19–$469.27
78800 represents planar imaging of one area. Use 78803 when the tumor-localization acquisition is performed with SPECT.
$366.96–$587.16
78830 describes SPECT tumor-localization imaging with CT for one area; 78800 is for planar imaging without that SPECT/CT approach.
See how rates vary across the country
78800 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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.
$200.89
$287.46
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $254.16 | 1 |
| AL | $204.38 | 1 |
| AR | $200.89 | 1 |
| AZ | $224.88 | 1 |
| CA | $250.55–$324.36 | 29 |
| CO | $244.62 | 1 |
| CT | $248.91 | 1 |
| DC | $270.28 | 1 |
| DE | $229.08 | 1 |
| FL | $224.34–$245.43 | 3 |
| GA | $210.01–$235.86 | 2 |
| GU | $258.86 | 1 |
| HI | $258.86 | 1 |
| IA | $212.13 | 1 |
| ID | $213.42 | 1 |
| IL | $215.61–$240.14 | 4 |
| IN | $214.92 | 1 |
| KS | $210.20 | 1 |
| KY | $208.46 | 1 |
| LA | $207.77–$220.00 | 2 |
| MA | $242.47–$272.59 | 2 |
| MD | $234.23–$270.28 | 3 |
| ME | $213.92–$228.70 | 2 |
| MI | $214.16–$226.82 | 2 |
| MN | $235.48 | 1 |
| MO | $203.05–$221.84 | 3 |
| MS | $202.05 | 1 |
| MT | $231.80 | 1 |
| NC | $216.68 | 1 |
| ND | $229.82 | 1 |
| NE | $213.73 | 1 |
| NH | $239.90 | 1 |
| NJ | $252.07–$266.57 | 2 |
| NM | $215.23 | 1 |
| NV | $231.45 | 1 |
| NY | $220.42–$275.26 | 5 |
| OH | $213.75 | 1 |
| OK | $208.83 | 1 |
| OR | $229.98–$254.34 | 2 |
| PA | $214.58–$241.34 | 2 |
| PR | $234.04 | 1 |
| RI | $238.69 | 1 |
| SC | $215.51 | 1 |
| SD | $229.58 | 1 |
| TN | $211.35 | 1 |
| TX | $212.87–$243.51 | 8 |
| UT | $219.00 | 1 |
| VA | $227.29–$270.28 | 2 |
| VI | $234.04 | 1 |
| VT | $228.07 | 1 |
| WA | $242.28–$279.39 | 2 |
| WI | $220.77 | 1 |
| WV | $206.03 | 1 |
| WY | $230.93 | 1 |
Compare 78800 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Office $204.38 | Facility Unavailable |
| Alaska* | Office $254.16 | Facility Unavailable |
| Arizona | Office $224.88 | Facility Unavailable |
| Arkansas | Office $200.89 | Facility Unavailable |
| Atlanta | Office $235.86 | Facility Unavailable |
| Austin | Office $243.51 | Facility Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | Office $250.83 | Facility Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | Office $248.09 | Facility Unavailable |
| Beaumont | Office $212.87 | Facility Unavailable |
| Brazoria | Office $229.36 | Facility Unavailable |
| Chicago | Office $237.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Chico | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Colorado | Office $244.62 | Facility Unavailable |
| Connecticut | Office $248.91 | Facility Unavailable |
| Dallas | Office $230.68 | Facility Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | Office $270.28 | Facility Unavailable |
| Delaware | Office $229.08 | Facility Unavailable |
| Detroit | Office $226.82 | Facility Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | Office $218.57 | Facility Unavailable |
| El Centro | Office $250.57 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | Office $237.20 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | Office $228.65 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fresno | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Galveston | Office $229.94 | Facility Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | Office $258.86 | Facility Unavailable |
| Houston | Office $231.77 | Facility Unavailable |
| Idaho | Office $213.42 | Facility Unavailable |
| Indiana | Office $214.92 | Facility Unavailable |
| Iowa | Office $212.13 | Facility Unavailable |
| Kansas | Office $210.20 | Facility Unavailable |
| Kentucky | Office $208.46 | Facility Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | Office $269.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Madera | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Manhattan | Office $268.74 | Facility Unavailable |
| Merced | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | Office $272.59 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | Office $219.05 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | Office $241.34 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | Office $221.84 | Facility Unavailable |
| Miami | Office $245.43 | Facility Unavailable |
| Minnesota | Office $235.48 | Facility Unavailable |
| Mississippi | Office $202.05 | Facility Unavailable |
| Modesto | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Montana** | Office $231.80 | Facility Unavailable |
| Napa | Office $297.53 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nebraska | Office $213.73 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nevada** | Office $231.45 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | Office $239.90 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Mexico | Office $215.23 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Orleans | Office $220.00 | Facility Unavailable |
| North Carolina | Office $216.68 | Facility Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | Office $229.82 | Facility Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | Office $266.57 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | Office $275.26 | Facility Unavailable |
| Ohio | Office $213.75 | Facility Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | Office $208.83 | Facility Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | Office $268.93 | Facility Unavailable |
| Portland | Office $254.34 | Facility Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | Office $253.17 | Facility Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | Office $234.04 | Facility Unavailable |
| Queens | Office $272.42 | Facility Unavailable |
| Redding | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | Office $224.34 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | Office $210.01 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | Office $215.61 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | Office $207.77 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | Office $213.92 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | Office $234.23 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | Office $242.47 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | Office $214.16 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | Office $203.05 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | Office $252.07 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | Office $220.42 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | Office $229.98 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | Office $214.58 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | Office $220.88 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | Office $242.28 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | Office $238.69 | Facility Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | Office $251.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Office $264.86 | Facility Unavailable |
| Salinas | Office $263.93 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | Office $271.61 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | Office $317.14 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | Office $317.03 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | Office $324.36 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | Office $323.89 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | Office $259.48 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | Office $275.35 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | Office $265.32 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | Office $278.24 | Facility Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Office $279.39 | Facility Unavailable |
| South Carolina | Office $215.51 | Facility Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | Office $229.58 | Facility Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | Office $228.70 | Facility Unavailable |
| Stockton | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | Office $240.14 | Facility Unavailable |
| Tennessee | Office $211.35 | Facility Unavailable |
| Utah | Office $219.00 | Facility Unavailable |
| Vallejo | Office $297.37 | Facility Unavailable |
| Vermont | Office $228.07 | Facility Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | Office $234.04 | Facility Unavailable |
| Virginia | Office $227.29 | Facility Unavailable |
| Visalia | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| West Virginia | Office $206.03 | Facility Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | Office $220.77 | Facility Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | Office $230.93 | Facility Unavailable |
| Yuba City | Office $250.55 | Facility Unavailable |
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78800 billing questions
How does this differ from 78801?
Use 78800 for imaging of one area on one day. Code 78801 describes imaging of multiple areas, with one or more days of imaging.
Can 78800 be used for SPECT imaging?
No. This code describes planar tumor-localization imaging. For SPECT of one area, consider 78803; SPECT with CT is represented by 78830.
Which modifier identifies the physician interpretation?
Append modifier 26 when billing only the professional component. Modifier TC identifies the technical component; billing without either modifier represents the global service.
What should the report document?
Document the tumor-localization indication, the single body area examined, the radiopharmaceutical imaging performed, and the imaging date. The physician report should support the interpretation.
Is radiopharmaceutical injection reported with this imaging code?
The injection procedure may be separately represented by 78808 when performed and supported by the record. Code 78800 represents the imaging service.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
9,50978799,,Unlisted gu px dx nuc med,C,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,NA,0.00,0.00,0.00,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
9,51078799,26,Unlisted gu px dx nuc med,C,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
9,51178799,TC,Unlisted gu px dx nuc med,C,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,NA,0.00,0.00,0.00,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
9,51278800,,Rp loclzj tum 1 area 1 d img,A,,0.62,6.22,,6.22,NA,0.10,6.94,6.94,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,12.40,12.40,0.13
9,51378800,26,Rp loclzj tum 1 area 1 d img,A,,0.62,0.23,,0.23,,0.07,0.92,0.92,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
9,51478800,TC,Rp loclzj tum 1 area 1 d img,A,,0.00,5.99,,5.99,NA,0.03,6.02,6.02,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,12.17,12.17,0.06
9,51578801,,Rp loclzj tum 2+area 1+d img,A,,0.71,6.40,,6.40,NA,0.08,7.19,7.19,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,12.39,12.39,0.12