Billing code 88182: Cell marker studyMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports a limited cell-marker analysis, such as DNA ploidy, cell-cycle analysis, or immunocytochemistry, on a specimen submitted for diagnostic evaluation.
Medicare pays $148.97 for 88182 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $130.81–$204.68.
Medicare rate · 88182
Cell marker study
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.75
- Total RVUs
- 4.46
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$148.97
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 88182 → · 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 88182 covers
This service covers a limited analysis of cells using markers or related measurements, including DNA ploidy, cell-cycle analysis, or immunocytochemistry. It is performed in a pathology or cytology laboratory, with laboratory staff and equipment supporting the technical work and a pathologist or other qualified professional interpreting the findings. It may be used to characterize tumor cells or other diagnostically relevant cells in a submitted specimen.
Report the service for each specimen that receives the limited study, rather than counting individual markers as separate units. Documentation should identify the specimen, the type and purpose of the analysis, and the resulting interpretation. CMS recognizes separate professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion, and reporting without either modifier represents the global service. The professional and technical components are separately priced when billed with their respective modifiers.
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 88182 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
$130.81 to $204.68
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $132.86 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $168.52 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $144.90 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $130.81 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $151.40 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $155.86 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $160.36 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $158.74 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $137.85 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $152.35 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $156.63 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $159.28 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $148.42 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $172.25 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $147.43 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $146.08 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $141.25 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $160.18 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $152.17 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $147.23 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $147.97 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $164.83 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $149.07 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $138.16 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $139.04 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $137.40 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $136.27 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $135.27 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $171.63 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $171.50 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $173.43 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $141.49 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $154.80 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $143.12 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $157.03 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $151.09 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $131.50 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $148.96 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $188.33 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $138.33 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $148.76 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $153.72 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $139.25 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $142.05 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $140.08 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $147.78 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $170.19 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $175.33 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $138.38 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $135.48 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $171.10 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $162.39 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $162.10 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $150.28 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $173.65 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $144.61 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $136.19 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $139.49 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $134.86 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $138.46 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $150.52 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $155.42 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $138.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $132.09 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $161.38 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $142.28 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $147.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $138.86 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $142.56 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $155.28 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $153.25 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $160.83 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $168.81 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $168.20 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $172.70 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $200.25 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $200.18 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $204.68 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $204.40 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $165.41 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $174.78 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $168.98 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $176.59 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $177.53 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $139.40 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $147.64 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $147.13 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $153.98 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $136.95 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $141.45 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $188.23 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $146.76 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $150.28 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $146.31 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $133.86 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $142.46 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $148.45 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $160.17 | Unavailable |
88182 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.
$130.81
$182.43
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 | $168.52 | 1 |
| AL | $132.86 | 1 |
| AR | $130.81 | 1 |
| AZ | $144.90 | 1 |
| CA | $160.17–$204.68 | 29 |
| CO | $156.63 | 1 |
| CT | $159.28 | 1 |
| DC | $172.25 | 1 |
| DE | $147.43 | 1 |
| FL | $144.61–$157.03 | 3 |
| GA | $136.19–$151.40 | 2 |
| GU | $164.83 | 1 |
| HI | $164.83 | 1 |
| IA | $137.40 | 1 |
| ID | $138.16 | 1 |
| IL | $139.49–$153.98 | 4 |
| IN | $139.04 | 1 |
| KS | $136.27 | 1 |
| KY | $135.27 | 1 |
| LA | $134.86–$142.05 | 2 |
| MA | $155.42–$173.43 | 2 |
| MD | $150.52–$172.25 | 3 |
| ME | $138.46–$147.13 | 2 |
| MI | $138.62–$146.08 | 2 |
| MN | $151.09 | 1 |
| MO | $132.09–$143.12 | 3 |
| MS | $131.50 | 1 |
| MT | $148.96 | 1 |
| NC | $140.08 | 1 |
| ND | $147.78 | 1 |
| NE | $138.33 | 1 |
| NH | $153.72 | 1 |
| NJ | $161.38–$170.19 | 2 |
| NM | $139.25 | 1 |
| NV | $148.76 | 1 |
| NY | $142.28–$175.33 | 5 |
| OH | $138.38 | 1 |
| OK | $135.48 | 1 |
| OR | $147.89–$162.39 | 2 |
| PA | $138.86–$154.80 | 2 |
| PR | $150.28 | 1 |
| RI | $153.25 | 1 |
| SC | $139.40 | 1 |
| SD | $147.64 | 1 |
| TN | $136.95 | 1 |
| TX | $137.85–$155.86 | 8 |
| UT | $141.45 | 1 |
| VA | $146.31–$172.25 | 2 |
| VI | $150.28 | 1 |
| VT | $146.76 | 1 |
| WA | $155.28–$177.53 | 2 |
| WI | $142.46 | 1 |
| WV | $133.86 | 1 |
| WY | $148.45 | 1 |
How the 88182 rate is calculated
Each of 88182’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 · 88182
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.75Practice expense 3.65Malpractice 0.06
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88182
The CMS indicators that decide how 88182 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88182
Cell marker study
| 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
88182 without 26 · national office
$148.97
Cell marker study
88182-26 · Professional component
$35.07
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88182 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
88182 vs 88184 vs 88187 vs 88188: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 88184Flow cytometry
- 88182 describes a limited cell-marker analysis, such as DNA ploidy or immunocytochemistry. 88184 is the technical component for the first marker in a flow cytometry study.
- 88187Flow cytometry
- 88187 is the professional interpretation and report for flow cytometry with 2–8 markers. 88182 describes a limited cell-marker study, not a marker-count tier for flow cytometry.
- 88188Flow cytometry
- 88188 reports flow cytometry interpretation for 9–15 markers; 88182 is used for a limited cell-marker analysis such as cell-cycle analysis or immunocytochemistry.
88182 billing questions
When should 88182 be chosen instead of a flow cytometry code?
Use 88182 for a limited cell-marker study such as DNA ploidy, cell-cycle analysis, or immunocytochemistry. Flow cytometry procedures are reported with codes specific to their technical marker work and interpretation.
How many units should be reported?
Report one unit for each specimen receiving the limited study. Do not use the number of markers as the unit count.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical work. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports 88182?
Document the specimen, the limited study performed, its diagnostic purpose, and the interpretation. The record should make clear that the work was a limited cell-marker analysis rather than flow cytometry marker testing.
Is 88182 reported once per marker?
No. For this code, the unit is the specimen receiving the limited analysis, not each marker assessed.
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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