FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu
On this page

CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

88172 in Delaware

Office / nonfacility

$53.78

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.

Cytopathology

About 88172: Fine needle aspirate adequacy evaluation

Reports immediate cytopathology review of fine needle aspirate material at the first site to assess specimen adequacy during an aspiration procedure.

This service is an immediate review of material collected by fine needle aspiration to determine whether the specimen is adequate for diagnostic work. It is commonly performed during aspiration of a thyroid nodule, lymph node, or other mass, with a cytopathologist or pathology team reviewing the material while the procedure is in progress. The adequacy assessment can help the proceduralist decide whether further passes or specimen triage are needed.

Report 88172 for the first site evaluated; additional sites are represented by 88177 rather than by counting repeat passes from the same site as new sites. Documentation should identify the aspirated site and record the on-site adequacy assessment. This service is distinct from the final diagnostic interpretation and report represented by 88173 when that work is also performed. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 reports interpretation, modifier TC reports equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.

CMS billing rules for 88172

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 RVU0.67 · 41%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU0.93 · 57%
  • Malpractice RVU0.02 · 1%

117.4K

Medicare services in 2024 · #517 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.

88172 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Delaware, from the same CMS release.

88173

FNA cytology

Final interpretation and report

$165.29

Choose 88172 for the immediate adequacy assessment during aspiration; choose 88173 for the diagnostic interpretation and report.

88177

FNA adequacy

Each additional evaluation

$28.91

88172 is for the first site evaluated. Use 88177 for each additional site, not for extra passes at the original site.

88160

Cytology smear

Other source, screening and interpretation

$80.71

88160 concerns cytology smears from other sources; 88172 is specifically immediate adequacy evaluation of fine needle aspirate material.

The same code, a different location

How does Delaware compare?

88172 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Delaware · This locality

    $53.78

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

    $60.49

    $6.71 higher than Delaware

  3. Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    $60.92

    $7.14 higher than Delaware

  4. Miami

    $56.40

    $2.62 higher than Delaware

  5. Chicago

    $55.29

    $1.51 higher than Delaware

  6. Manhattan

    $60.97

    $7.19 higher than Delaware

  7. Alaska*

    $67.02

    $13.24 higher than Delaware

Other payment areas listed in Delaware 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, 88172 ranges from $49.41 in Arkansas to $69.99 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

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 88172

    Office

    $49.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.84 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 88172

    Office

    $49.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.37 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 88172

    Office

    $53.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.73 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.26

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.48 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.39 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 88172

    Office

    $65.07

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.29 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 88172

    Office

    $60.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.36 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.62 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 88172

    Office

    $59.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.89 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 88172

    Office

    $59.43

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.65 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 88172

    Office

    $60.56

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.78 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 88172

    Office

    $68.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.83 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

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

    California · 88172

    Office

    $68.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.81 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

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

    California · 88172

    Office

    $69.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.21 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

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

    California · 88172

    Office

    $69.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.12 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 88172

    Office

    $58.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.72 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 88172

    Office

    $60.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.17 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 88172

    Office

    $59.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.80 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 88172

    Office

    $61.55

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.77 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 88172

    Office

    $65.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.26 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 88172

    Office

    $57.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 88172

    Office

    $56.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.44 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 88172

    Office

    $57.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.31 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 88172

    Office

    $55.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.27 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 88172

    Office

    $53.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.70 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 88172

    Office

    $54.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.03 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 88172

    Office

    $50.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.90 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 88172

    Office

    $58.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.30 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 88172

    Office

    $51.07

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.71 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 88172

    Office

    $51.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.51 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 88172

    Office

    $52.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.48 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 88172

    Office

    $51.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.00 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 88172

    Office

    $55.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.84 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 88172

    Office

    $51.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.28 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 88172

    Office

    $50.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.98 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 88172

    Office

    $50.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.18 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 88172

    Office

    $52.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.41 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 88172

    Office

    $50.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.27 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 88172

    Office

    $60.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.20 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 88172

    Office

    $55.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.20 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 88172

    Office

    $56.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.11 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 88172

    Office

    $54.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.87 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 88172

    Office

    $51.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.41 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 88172

    Office

    $53.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.20 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 88172

    Office

    $53.48

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.30 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 88172

    Office

    $51.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.29 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 88172

    Office

    $54.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.76 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 88172

    Office

    $52.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.58 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 88172

    Office

    $52.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.16 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 88172

    Office

    $49.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.97 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 88172

    Office

    $49.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.16 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 88172

    Office

    $54.11

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.33 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 88172

    Office

    $51.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.99 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 88172

    Office

    $53.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.07 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 88172

    Office

    $51.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.48 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 88172

    Office

    $55.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.52 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 88172

    Office

    $60.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.75 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 88172

    Office

    $57.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.15 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 88172

    Office

    $51.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.11 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 88172

    Office

    $54.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.25 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 88172

    Office

    $61.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.21 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 88172

    Office

    $58.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.43 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 88172

    Office

    $61.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.71 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 88172

    Office

    $52.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.42 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 88172

    Office

    $51.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.37 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 88172

    Office

    $50.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.14 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 88172

    Office

    $57.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.96 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 88172

    Office

    $53.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 88172

    Office

    $55.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.13 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 88172

    Office

    $51.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.25 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 88172

    Office

    $54.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.66 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 88172

    Office

    $55.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.71 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 88172

    Office

    $51.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.13 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 88172

    Office

    $53.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.11 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 88172

    Office

    $50.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.81 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 88172

    Office

    $55.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.10 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 88172

    Office

    $51.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.51 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 88172

    Office

    $53.86

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.08 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 88172

    Office

    $54.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.31 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 88172

    Office

    $53.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 88172

    Office

    $53.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.18 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 88172

    Office

    $54.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.54 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 88172

    Office

    $52.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.32 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 88172

    Office

    $52.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.60 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 88172

    Office

    $53.38

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.40 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 88172

    Office

    $54.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.66 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 88172

    Office

    $53.47

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.31 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 88172

    Office

    $55.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.11 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 88172

    Office

    $62.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.38 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 88172

    Office

    $52.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.44 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 88172

    Office

    $50.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.45 lower than Delaware for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 88172

    Office

    $53.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.16 higher than Delaware for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

88172 · 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.

$49.41

$67.02

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$67.021
AL$49.941
AR$49.411
AZ$53.051
CA$57.16–$69.9929
CO$56.221
CT$57.091
DC$60.921
DE$53.781
FL$53.08–$56.403
GA$50.88–$54.812
GU$58.081
HI$58.081
IA$51.071
ID$51.271
IL$51.78–$55.624
IN$51.501
KS$50.801
KY$50.601
LA$50.51–$52.372
MA$55.98–$60.982
MD$54.65–$60.923
ME$51.37–$53.582
MI$51.49–$53.482
MN$54.541
MO$49.81–$52.623
MS$49.621
MT$54.111
NC$51.791
ND$53.711
NE$51.301
NH$55.301
NJ$57.93–$60.532
NM$51.671
NV$54.031
NY$52.36–$61.995
OH$51.411
OK$50.641
OR$53.79–$57.742
PA$51.53–$55.912
PR$54.441
RI$55.491
SC$51.651
SD$53.671
TN$50.971
TX$51.27–$55.888
UT$52.181
VA$53.38–$60.922
VI$54.441
VT$53.471
WA$55.89–$62.162
WI$52.341
WV$50.331
WY$53.941

Explore 88172 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Delaware is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware, 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 Delaware →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 88172 in Delaware. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$59.16

$53.78 × 110% = $59.16

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 88172 in Delaware.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

11,148

Code
88172
Physician work
0.67
Practice expense
0.93
Malpractice
0.02

GPCI2026.csv

40

Locality
Delaware
Physician work
1.005
Practice expense
0.988
Malpractice
0.899
Office / nonfacility calculation for 88172 in Delaware
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.67× 1.0050.6734
Practice expense0.93× 0.9880.9188
Malpractice0.02× 0.8990.0180
Total RVUs1.6102
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Delaware$53.78

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

Open 88172 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.671.005
Practice expense0.930.988
Malpractice0.020.899

(0.67 × 1.005 + 0.93 × 0.988 + 0.02 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $53.78

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

88172 · Office / nonfacility

$53.78

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.80 lower than on 2025-10-01, moving from $54.58 to $53.78 (1.5%).

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

    $54.58changed to$53.78

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.69 changed to 0.67
    • Practice expense RVU 0.98 changed to 0.93
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.992 changed to 0.988
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.949 changed to 0.899

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $54.58

    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$53.78Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$53.78Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$53.78Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$53.78Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$54.58Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$54.58Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$54.58Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$54.58Not available in this settingRVU25A

88172 billing questions

How is 88172 different from 88173?

88172 represents immediate review to assess specimen adequacy during the aspiration procedure. 88173 represents the diagnostic interpretation and report.

When is 88177 reported with 88172?

88172 covers the first site evaluated, and 88177 is the add-on for each additional site. Additional passes from the same site do not make it an additional site.

Can 88172 be reported with the FNA procedure?

Yes, when immediate cytopathology adequacy evaluation is performed in addition to the aspiration procedure. The aspiration code describes collecting the specimen; 88172 describes its on-site adequacy review.

Which modifiers identify the components?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation or modifier TC for the technical work, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, 88172 represents the global service.

What documentation supports 88172?

Document the site evaluated and the immediate adequacy assessment. The record should support that cytopathology review occurred during the aspiration, rather than only a later diagnostic 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 88172PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,148 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for DelawareGPCI2026.csv, line 40 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet