FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu
On this page

CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

49082 in Chicago

Office / nonfacility

$255.09

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$80.20

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.

Abdominal procedures

About 49082: Abdominal paracentesis without imaging guidance

Needle drainage of peritoneal fluid without imaging guidance for diagnostic sampling or relief of ascites is reported with CPT 49082.

49082 represents needle or catheter entry through the abdominal wall into the peritoneal cavity to withdraw ascitic fluid without imaging guidance. The procedure may be diagnostic, such as sampling new or worsening ascites for evaluation, or therapeutic to relieve symptomatic fluid accumulation, including ascites associated with cirrhosis or malignancy. Physicians commonly perform it at the bedside or in hospital and clinic settings.

Choose 49082 when the tap is performed without imaging guidance; when imaging guides the procedure, report 49083 instead. Documentation should identify the indication, technique, fluid obtained, amount removed, and whether a specimen was sent for testing. Separately performed laboratory analysis is reported under the applicable lab codes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 49082

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Multiple procedures
Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
Bilateral procedures
Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
Assistant at surgery
Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.21 · 16%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU5.93 · 81%
  • Malpractice RVU0.20 · 3%

8.4K

Medicare services in 2024 · #1565 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.

49082 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Chicago, from the same CMS release.

49083

Paracentesis

With imaging guidance

$294.84

Use 49083 when imaging guidance is used for the paracentesis; 49082 describes the procedure without imaging guidance.

49084

Peritoneal lavage

Diagnostic abdominal fluid lavage

No office rate

49084 describes peritoneal lavage, a washout procedure. Paracentesis withdraws ascitic fluid for sampling or symptom relief.

49020

Abscess drainage

Open peritoneal approach

No office rate

49020 is open drainage of an abdominal abscess. It is not the needle or catheter removal of ascitic fluid described by 49082.

The same code, a different location

How does Chicago compare?

In East St. Louis, the office rate for 49082 is $236.09—$19.00 lower than the $255.09 rate in Chicago. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

49082 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Chicago · This locality

    $255.09

  2. East St. Louis

    $236.09

    $19.00 lower than Chicago

  3. Rest Of Illinois

    $231.69

    $23.40 lower than Chicago

  4. Suburban Chicago

    $255.95

    $0.86 higher than Chicago

  5. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $280.82

    $25.73 higher than Chicago

  6. Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    $283.36

    $28.27 higher than Chicago

  7. Miami

    $263.50

    $8.41 higher than Chicago

Other payment areas listed in Illinois 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, 49082 ranges from $214.00 in Arkansas to $334.05 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

  • Manhattan

    New York · 49082

    Office

    $283.75

    Facility

    $81.54

    $28.66 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 49082

    Office

    $275.25

    Facility

    $89.92

    $20.16 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 49082

    Office

    $217.50

    Facility

    $65.24

    $37.59 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 49082

    Office

    $214.00

    Facility

    $64.51

    $41.09 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 49082

    Office

    $238.06

    Facility

    $69.44

    $17.03 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 49082

    Office

    $262.33

    Facility

    $71.61

    $7.24 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.80

    Facility

    $71.07

    $6.71 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 49082

    Office

    $307.41

    Facility

    $78.05

    $52.32 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 49082

    Office

    $279.82

    Facility

    $74.13

    $24.73 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 49082

    Office

    $263.92

    Facility

    $73.20

    $8.83 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 49082

    Office

    $275.80

    Facility

    $73.42

    $20.71 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 49082

    Office

    $274.81

    Facility

    $73.12

    $19.72 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 49082

    Office

    $282.14

    Facility

    $74.01

    $27.05 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 49082

    Office

    $326.60

    Facility

    $81.23

    $71.51 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

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

    California · 49082

    Office

    $326.37

    Facility

    $81.00

    $71.28 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

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

    California · 49082

    Office

    $334.05

    Facility

    $83.12

    $78.96 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

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

    California · 49082

    Office

    $333.13

    Facility

    $82.19

    $78.04 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 49082

    Office

    $270.28

    Facility

    $72.07

    $15.19 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 49082

    Office

    $285.50

    Facility

    $74.06

    $30.41 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 49082

    Office

    $276.07

    Facility

    $73.17

    $20.98 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 49082

    Office

    $288.43

    Facility

    $74.74

    $33.34 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 49082

    Office

    $307.08

    Facility

    $77.72

    $51.99 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 49082

    Office

    $261.76

    Facility

    $71.04

    $6.67 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 49082

    Office

    $256.86

    Facility

    $71.71

    $1.77 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 49082

    Office

    $262.62

    Facility

    $75.21

    $7.53 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 49082

    Office

    $242.31

    Facility

    $70.38

    $12.78 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 49082

    Office

    $253.14

    Facility

    $76.85

    $1.95 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 49082

    Office

    $239.81

    Facility

    $73.45

    $15.28 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 49082

    Office

    $249.80

    Facility

    $72.99

    $5.29 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 49082

    Office

    $225.05

    Facility

    $69.83

    $30.04 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 49082

    Office

    $269.49

    Facility

    $71.63

    $14.40 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 49082

    Office

    $224.30

    Facility

    $65.07

    $30.79 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 49082

    Office

    $225.80

    Facility

    $65.70

    $29.29 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 49082

    Office

    $227.27

    Facility

    $65.95

    $27.82 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 49082

    Office

    $222.83

    Facility

    $65.52

    $32.26 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 49082

    Office

    $222.61

    Facility

    $67.91

    $32.48 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 49082

    Office

    $234.39

    Facility

    $70.63

    $20.70 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 49082

    Office

    $222.10

    Facility

    $68.10

    $32.99 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 49082

    Office

    $284.51

    Facility

    $76.73

    $29.42 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 49082

    Office

    $254.95

    Facility

    $71.71

    $0.14 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 49082

    Office

    $261.85

    Facility

    $75.13

    $6.76 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 49082

    Office

    $247.40

    Facility

    $71.29

    $7.69 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 49082

    Office

    $226.79

    Facility

    $66.69

    $28.30 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 49082

    Office

    $240.92

    Facility

    $68.46

    $14.17 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 49082

    Office

    $242.81

    Facility

    $74.88

    $12.28 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 49082

    Office

    $228.79

    Facility

    $69.91

    $26.30 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 49082

    Office

    $246.20

    Facility

    $67.14

    $8.89 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 49082

    Office

    $232.93

    Facility

    $69.52

    $22.16 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 49082

    Office

    $235.67

    Facility

    $70.00

    $19.42 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 49082

    Office

    $217.66

    Facility

    $67.65

    $37.43 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 49082

    Office

    $215.89

    Facility

    $66.06

    $39.20 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 49082

    Office

    $245.15

    Facility

    $71.13

    $9.94 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 49082

    Office

    $229.48

    Facility

    $67.12

    $25.61 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 49082

    Office

    $241.19

    Facility

    $67.18

    $13.90 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 49082

    Office

    $225.76

    Facility

    $65.14

    $29.33 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 49082

    Office

    $252.45

    Facility

    $71.29

    $2.64 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 49082

    Office

    $279.85

    Facility

    $77.99

    $24.76 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 49082

    Office

    $265.65

    Facility

    $75.62

    $10.56 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 49082

    Office

    $230.07

    Facility

    $70.49

    $25.02 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 49082

    Office

    $244.25

    Facility

    $70.05

    $10.84 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 49082

    Office

    $290.91

    Facility

    $84.00

    $35.82 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 49082

    Office

    $267.20

    Facility

    $76.65

    $12.11 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 49082

    Office

    $286.75

    Facility

    $81.06

    $31.66 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 49082

    Office

    $233.28

    Facility

    $67.96

    $21.81 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 49082

    Office

    $227.98

    Facility

    $69.11

    $27.11 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 49082

    Office

    $222.48

    Facility

    $67.08

    $32.61 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 49082

    Office

    $266.08

    Facility

    $72.75

    $10.99 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 49082

    Office

    $242.39

    Facility

    $69.06

    $12.70 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 49082

    Office

    $255.30

    Facility

    $74.15

    $0.21 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 49082

    Office

    $228.55

    Facility

    $68.80

    $26.54 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 49082

    Office

    $247.24

    Facility

    $71.31

    $7.85 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 49082

    Office

    $251.75

    Facility

    $71.98

    $3.34 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 49082

    Office

    $229.11

    Facility

    $68.31

    $25.98 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 49082

    Office

    $240.73

    Facility

    $66.71

    $14.36 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 49082

    Office

    $224.05

    Facility

    $65.86

    $31.04 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 49082

    Office

    $255.97

    Facility

    $71.86

    $0.88 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 49082

    Office

    $226.86

    Facility

    $68.51

    $28.23 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 49082

    Office

    $242.23

    Facility

    $69.78

    $12.86 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 49082

    Office

    $243.79

    Facility

    $70.46

    $11.30 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 49082

    Office

    $241.89

    Facility

    $70.31

    $13.20 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 49082

    Office

    $242.95

    Facility

    $70.15

    $12.14 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 49082

    Office

    $246.61

    Facility

    $73.81

    $8.48 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 49082

    Office

    $234.41

    Facility

    $69.27

    $20.68 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 49082

    Office

    $232.60

    Facility

    $69.02

    $22.49 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 49082

    Office

    $239.83

    Facility

    $68.77

    $15.26 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 49082

    Office

    $247.24

    Facility

    $71.31

    $7.85 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 49082

    Office

    $239.88

    Facility

    $67.60

    $15.21 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 49082

    Office

    $254.59

    Facility

    $71.35

    $0.50 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 49082

    Office

    $290.92

    Facility

    $77.40

    $35.83 higher than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 49082

    Office

    $232.22

    Facility

    $65.51

    $22.87 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 49082

    Office

    $222.09

    Facility

    $70.87

    $33.00 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 49082

    Office

    $243.43

    Facility

    $69.41

    $11.66 lower than Chicago for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

49082 · 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.

$214.00

$297.91

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$275.251
AL$217.501
AR$214.001
AZ$238.061
CA$261.76–$334.0529
CO$256.861
CT$262.621
DC$283.361
DE$242.311
FL$239.81–$263.503
GA$225.05–$249.802
GU$269.491
HI$269.491
IA$224.301
ID$225.801
IL$231.69–$255.954
IN$227.271
KS$222.831
KY$222.611
LA$222.10–$234.392
MA$254.95–$284.512
MD$247.40–$283.363
ME$226.79–$240.922
MI$228.79–$242.812
MN$246.201
MO$217.66–$235.673
MS$215.891
MT$245.151
NC$229.481
ND$241.191
NE$225.761
NH$252.451
NJ$265.65–$279.852
NM$230.071
NV$244.251
NY$233.28–$290.915
OH$227.981
OK$222.481
OR$242.39–$266.082
PA$228.55–$255.302
PR$247.241
RI$251.751
SC$229.111
SD$240.731
TN$224.051
TX$226.86–$255.978
UT$232.601
VA$239.83–$283.362
VI$247.241
VT$239.881
WA$254.59–$290.922
WI$232.221
WV$222.091
WY$243.431

Explore 49082 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Chicago is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 137 cities and communities in Illinois, 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 Illinois →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 49082 in Chicago, the physician’s office rate is $255.09 and the facility-setting rate is $80.20: a difference of $174.89.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 49082 in Chicago. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$280.60

$255.09 × 110% = $280.60

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 49082 in Chicago.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,770

Code
49082
Physician work
1.21
Practice expense
5.93
Malpractice
0.20

GPCI2026.csv

48

Locality
Chicago
Physician work
1.007
Practice expense
1.005
Malpractice
2.295
Office / nonfacility calculation for 49082 in Chicago
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.21× 1.0071.2185
Practice expense5.93× 1.0055.9596
Malpractice0.20× 2.2950.4590
Total RVUs7.6371
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Chicago$255.09

Open 49082 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.211.007
Practice expense5.931.005
Malpractice0.22.295

(1.21 × 1.007 + 5.93 × 1.005 + 0.2 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $255.09

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.211.007
Practice expense0.721.005
Malpractice0.22.295

(1.21 × 1.007 + 0.72 × 1.005 + 0.2 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $80.20

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

49082 · Office / nonfacility

$255.09

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $45.11 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $209.98 to $255.09 (21.5%).

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

    $209.98changed to$255.09

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.24 changed to 1.21
    • Practice expense RVU 4.77 changed to 5.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.20
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.005
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.018 changed to 2.295

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $209.98

    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$255.09$80.20RVU26D
2026-07-01$255.09$80.20RVU26C
2026-04-01$255.09$80.20RVU26B
2026-01-01$255.09$80.20RVU26A
2025-10-01$209.98$77.29RVU25D
2025-07-01$209.98$77.29RVU25C
2025-04-01$209.98$77.29RVU25B
2025-01-01$209.98$77.29RVU25A

49082 billing questions

When should I report 49083 instead?

Report 49083 when imaging guidance is used for the paracentesis. Use 49082 when the procedure is performed without imaging guidance.

Can the ascitic-fluid tests be billed separately?

Yes. Separately performed laboratory testing, such as a fluid cell count or albumin measurement, may be reported under the applicable laboratory codes.

Is modifier 50 appropriate for bilateral paracentesis?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

How many units should be reported when a large volume is removed?

Report the procedure, not a unit for each volume removed. Document the amount drained, but do not use the volume as the unit count.

Does the code include same-day care?

Yes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

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 49082PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,770 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ChicagoGPCI2026.csv, line 48 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet