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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

88355 in Austin

Office / nonfacility

$144.88

Base rate per service

Facility setting

Not available in this setting

Base rate per service

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.

Surgical pathology

About 88355: Skeletal muscle morphometric analysis

Reports quantitative morphometric measurement of skeletal muscle biopsy tissue, typically when evaluating suspected myopathic or neurogenic disease beyond routine histologic examination.

A pathology laboratory performs quantitative morphometric assessment of skeletal muscle tissue, commonly from a biopsy obtained during evaluation of suspected myopathy, muscular dystrophy, or neurogenic muscle change. The analysis measures histologic muscle-fiber features; a pathologist interprets the findings in the context of the tissue and clinical question. It may be performed in a hospital laboratory or an independent pathology laboratory.

Report 88355 when skeletal muscle morphometric analysis is performed in addition to routine tissue examination, not for routine microscopic review alone. The report should identify the specimen and document the quantitative analysis and findings. CMS recognizes a professional component for interpretation and a technical component for the equipment and staff performing the test. Report modifier 26 for the professional component, modifier TC for the technical component, or neither modifier for the global service.

CMS billing rules for 88355

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 RVU1.80 · 43%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU2.37 · 56%
  • Malpractice RVU0.03 · 1%

139

Medicare services in 2024 · #4614 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.

88355 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.

88305

Tissue pathology exam

Level IV specimen

$72.73

88305 covers routine surgical pathology examination of a specimen. 88355 applies when quantitative morphometric analysis of skeletal muscle is also performed.

88356

Nerve analysis

Quantitative morphometry

$231.26

88356 is for morphometric analysis of nerve tissue; 88355 is for skeletal muscle tissue.

88358

Tumor analysis

Manual morphometry

$135.91

88358 addresses morphometric analysis of tumor tissue, while 88355 addresses skeletal muscle.

The same code, a different location

How does Austin compare?

In Beaumont, the office rate for 88355 is $133.09—$11.79 lower than the $144.88 rate in Austin. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

88355 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Austin · This locality

    $144.88

  2. Beaumont

    $133.09

    $11.79 lower than Austin

  3. Brazoria

    $139.83

    $5.05 lower than Austin

  4. Dallas

    $140.37

    $4.51 lower than Austin

  5. Fort Worth

    $139.59

    $5.29 lower than Austin

  6. Galveston

    $140.04

    $4.84 lower than Austin

  7. Houston

    $140.59

    $4.29 lower than Austin

Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 88355 ranges from $128.64 in Arkansas to $181.42 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 88355

    Office

    $136.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.73 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    California · 88355

    Office

    $156.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 88355

    Office

    $157.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.85 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 88355

    Office

    $145.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.18 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 88355

    Office

    $142.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.48 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 88355

    Office

    $157.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.66 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 88355

    Office

    $175.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $30.16 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 88355

    Office

    $129.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.93 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 88355

    Office

    $128.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.24 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 88355

    Office

    $137.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.19 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.75 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.45

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.57 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 88355

    Office

    $168.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.87 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 88355

    Office

    $156.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.12 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.82

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.94 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 88355

    Office

    $154.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.01 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 88355

    Office

    $154.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.39 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 88355

    Office

    $157.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.26 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 88355

    Office

    $177.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $33.03 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 88355

    Office

    $177.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.99 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 88355

    Office

    $181.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.54 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 88355

    Office

    $181.28

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.40 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 88355

    Office

    $151.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.96 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 88355

    Office

    $158.10

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.22 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 88355

    Office

    $154.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.76 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 88355

    Office

    $159.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.79 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 88355

    Office

    $168.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.82 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 88355

    Office

    $148.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 88355

    Office

    $145.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.97 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 88355

    Office

    $147.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.91 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 88355

    Office

    $139.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.35 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 88355

    Office

    $142.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.76 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 88355

    Office

    $137.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.58 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 88355

    Office

    $141.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.95 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 88355

    Office

    $131.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.95 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 88355

    Office

    $150.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.83 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 88355

    Office

    $132.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.93 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 88355

    Office

    $133.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.46 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 88355

    Office

    $134.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.91 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 88355

    Office

    $133.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.92 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 88355

    Office

    $143.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.26 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 88355

    Office

    $133.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.89 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 88355

    Office

    $132.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.69 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 88355

    Office

    $131.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.47 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 88355

    Office

    $135.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.13 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 88355

    Office

    $131.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.74 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 88355

    Office

    $158.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.12 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 88355

    Office

    $145.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.36 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 88355

    Office

    $147.26

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.38 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 88355

    Office

    $141.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.13 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 88355

    Office

    $133.57

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.31 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 88355

    Office

    $139.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.68 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 88355

    Office

    $138.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.68 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 88355

    Office

    $133.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.35 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 88355

    Office

    $141.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.01 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 88355

    Office

    $135.43

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.45 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 88355

    Office

    $136.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.39 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 88355

    Office

    $129.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.55 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 88355

    Office

    $129.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.86 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 88355

    Office

    $140.28

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.60 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 88355

    Office

    $134.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.26 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 88355

    Office

    $139.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.19 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 88355

    Office

    $133.57

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.31 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 88355

    Office

    $143.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.48 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 88355

    Office

    $156.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.93 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 88355

    Office

    $150.07

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.19 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 88355

    Office

    $133.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.97 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 88355

    Office

    $140.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.68 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 88355

    Office

    $159.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.07 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 88355

    Office

    $150.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.84 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 88355

    Office

    $158.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.10 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 88355

    Office

    $136.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.85 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 88355

    Office

    $133.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.48 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 88355

    Office

    $131.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.29 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 88355

    Office

    $149.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.90 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 88355

    Office

    $139.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.21 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 88355

    Office

    $144.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.08 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 88355

    Office

    $133.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.14 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 88355

    Office

    $141.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.74 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 88355

    Office

    $143.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.95 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 88355

    Office

    $134.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.76 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 88355

    Office

    $139.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.26 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 88355

    Office

    $132.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.26 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 88355

    Office

    $135.43

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.45 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 88355

    Office

    $138.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.24 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 88355

    Office

    $141.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.74 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 88355

    Office

    $139.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.88 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 88355

    Office

    $145.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.14 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 88355

    Office

    $161.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.20 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 88355

    Office

    $136.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.61 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 88355

    Office

    $130.35

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 88355

    Office

    $140.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.86 lower than Austin for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

88355 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

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.

$128.64

$175.04

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$175.041
AL$129.951
AR$128.641
AZ$137.691
CA$148.44–$181.4229
CO$145.851
CT$147.791
DC$157.731
DE$139.531
FL$137.30–$145.063
GA$131.93–$141.932
GU$150.711
HI$150.711
IA$132.951
ID$133.421
IL$133.96–$143.624
IN$133.991
KS$132.191
KY$131.411
LA$131.14–$135.752
MA$145.24–$158.002
MD$141.75–$157.733
ME$133.57–$139.202
MI$133.53–$138.202
MN$141.871
MO$129.33–$136.493
MS$129.021
MT$140.281
NC$134.621
ND$139.691
NE$133.571
NH$143.401
NJ$150.07–$156.812
NM$133.911
NV$140.201
NY$136.03–$159.955
OH$133.401
OK$131.591
OR$139.67–$149.782
PA$133.74–$144.802
PR$141.141
RI$143.931
SC$134.121
SD$139.621
TN$132.621
TX$133.09–$144.888
UT$135.431
VA$138.64–$157.732
VI$141.141
VT$139.001
WA$145.02–$161.082
WI$136.271
WV$130.351
WY$140.021

Explore 88355 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Austin is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in Texas →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 88355 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$159.37

$144.88 × 110% = $159.37

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

Compare your contract offer →

How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 88355 in Austin.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

11,266

Code
88355
Physician work
1.80
Practice expense
2.37
Malpractice
0.03

GPCI2026.csv

96

Locality
Austin
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office / nonfacility calculation for 88355 in Austin
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.80× 1.0021.8036
Practice expense2.37× 1.0582.5075
Malpractice0.03× 0.8860.0266
Total RVUs4.3376
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Austin$144.88

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 88355 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.81.002
Practice expense2.371.058
Malpractice0.030.886

(1.8 × 1.002 + 2.37 × 1.058 + 0.03 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $144.88

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

88355 · Office / nonfacility

$144.88

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $3.63 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $141.25 to $144.88 (2.6%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $141.25changed to$144.88

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.85 changed to 1.80
    • Practice expense RVU 2.38 changed to 2.37
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.914 changed to 0.886

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $141.25

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$144.88Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$144.88Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$144.88Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$144.88Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$141.25Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$141.25Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$141.25Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$141.25Not available in this settingRVU25A

88355 billing questions

How is 88355 different from routine muscle biopsy pathology?

Routine microscopic examination evaluates the biopsy for diagnosis. 88355 represents additional quantitative morphometric analysis of skeletal muscle tissue, so the record should support that distinct analysis.

When should 88355 be chosen instead of 88356?

Use 88355 for morphometric analysis of skeletal muscle. 88356 is the related analysis code for nerve tissue.

Can 88355 be reported with the muscle biopsy pathology code?

Both may be reported when the muscle biopsy receives routine surgical pathology examination and a separately performed morphometric analysis. The documentation should show both services.

Which modifiers identify the components?

Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What documentation supports 88355?

Document the skeletal muscle specimen, the quantitative morphometric work performed, the findings, and the pathologist's interpretation.

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.

RVUs for 88355PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,266 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AustinGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet