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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

38220 in El Centro

Office / nonfacility

$179.01

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$56.01

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.

Hematology procedure

About 38220: Diagnostic bone marrow aspiration

Reports needle aspiration of bone marrow for diagnostic evaluation, such as obtaining marrow material for hematologic testing or microscopic review.

A clinician advances an aspiration needle into marrow, commonly at the posterior iliac crest, and withdraws liquid marrow for diagnostic studies. Hematologists and oncologists often perform the procedure in an office, clinic, or hospital setting; interventional radiologists may perform it with image guidance when clinically needed. The aspirate can support evaluation of suspected marrow disorders, cytopenias, or hematologic malignancy. This code describes aspiration, not removal of a core tissue specimen.

Select this service when diagnostic marrow is aspirated without a marrow biopsy during the encounter. When both aspiration and biopsy are performed, use 38222 rather than separately reporting 38220 and 38221. Documentation should identify the diagnostic purpose, procedure site, and aspiration performed. CMS applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction when applicable procedures are performed in the same session: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%.

CMS billing rules for 38220

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 procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.17 · 23%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU3.76 · 75%
  • Malpractice RVU0.09 · 2%

3.5K

Medicare services in 2024 · #2077 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.

38220 compared with similar codes

Office rates for El Centro, from the same CMS release.

38221

Bone marrow biopsy

Biopsy without aspiration

$177.70

Choose 38221 when a marrow core biopsy is obtained without diagnostic aspiration. Aspiration alone is reported with 38220.

38222

Bone marrow exam

Aspiration and biopsy

$187.92

Choose 38222 when diagnostic aspiration and biopsy are both performed during the encounter; do not report 38220 and 38221 separately for that combination.

38230

Marrow harvest

Allogeneic donor

No office rate

38230 is for allogeneic bone marrow harvest, a donor collection service rather than diagnostic aspiration.

The same code, a different location

How does El Centro compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 38220 is $179.30—$0.29 higher than the $179.01 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

38220 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. El Centro · This locality

    $179.01

  2. Bakersfield

    $179.30

    $0.29 higher than El Centro

  3. Chico

    $179.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  4. Fresno

    $179.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  5. Hanford-Corcoran

    $179.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

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

    $191.25

    $12.24 higher than El Centro

  7. Madera

    $179.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

Other payment areas listed in California 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, 38220 ranges from $148.51 in Arkansas to $226.09 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

  • Merced

    California · 38220

    Office

    $179.00

    Facility

    $56.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 38220

    Office

    $179.00

    Facility

    $56.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 38220

    Office

    $208.59

    Facility

    $60.68

    $29.58 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 38220

    Office

    $190.49

    Facility

    $57.84

    $11.48 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 38220

    Office

    $179.00

    Facility

    $56.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 38220

    Office

    $179.00

    Facility

    $56.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 38220

    Office

    $179.99

    Facility

    $56.99

    $0.98 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 38220

    Office

    $188.16

    Facility

    $57.64

    $9.15 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 38220

    Office

    $187.46

    Facility

    $57.39

    $8.45 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 38220

    Office

    $192.08

    Facility

    $57.86

    $13.07 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 38220

    Office

    $221.25

    Facility

    $63.01

    $42.24 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 38220

    Office

    $221.15

    Facility

    $62.91

    $42.14 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 38220

    Office

    $226.09

    Facility

    $64.25

    $47.08 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 38220

    Office

    $225.67

    Facility

    $63.84

    $46.66 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 38220

    Office

    $184.40

    Facility

    $56.57

    $5.39 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 38220

    Office

    $194.10

    Facility

    $57.74

    $15.09 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 38220

    Office

    $188.22

    Facility

    $57.36

    $9.21 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 38220

    Office

    $196.08

    Facility

    $58.27

    $17.07 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 38220

    Office

    $179.00

    Facility

    $56.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 38220

    Office

    $208.44

    Facility

    $60.53

    $29.43 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 38220

    Office

    $179.00

    Facility

    $56.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 38220

    Office

    $179.00

    Facility

    $56.00

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 38220

    Office

    $192.48

    Facility

    $60.27

    $13.47 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 38220

    Office

    $177.42

    Facility

    $60.59

    $1.59 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 38220

    Office

    $172.47

    Facility

    $59.68

    $6.54 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 38220

    Office

    $192.28

    Facility

    $61.87

    $13.27 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 38220

    Office

    $194.03

    Facility

    $74.50

    $15.02 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 38220

    Office

    $150.67

    Facility

    $52.47

    $28.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 38220

    Office

    $148.51

    Facility

    $52.10

    $30.50 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 38220

    Office

    $163.35

    Facility

    $54.60

    $15.66 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 38220

    Office

    $175.52

    Facility

    $56.11

    $3.49 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 38220

    Office

    $178.76

    Facility

    $57.89

    $0.25 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 38220

    Office

    $166.06

    Facility

    $55.18

    $12.95 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 38220

    Office

    $171.73

    Facility

    $58.05

    $7.28 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 38220

    Office

    $163.66

    Facility

    $56.37

    $15.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 38220

    Office

    $170.40

    Facility

    $56.38

    $8.61 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 38220

    Office

    $154.69

    Facility

    $54.58

    $24.32 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 38220

    Office

    $183.61

    Facility

    $56.01

    $4.60 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 38220

    Office

    $155.18

    Facility

    $52.50

    $23.83 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 38220

    Office

    $156.04

    Facility

    $52.79

    $22.97 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 38220

    Office

    $160.67

    Facility

    $57.42

    $18.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 38220

    Office

    $158.44

    Facility

    $55.98

    $20.57 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 38220

    Office

    $173.66

    Facility

    $58.40

    $5.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 38220

    Office

    $156.96

    Facility

    $52.93

    $22.05 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 38220

    Office

    $154.13

    Facility

    $52.67

    $24.88 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 38220

    Office

    $153.48

    Facility

    $53.71

    $25.53 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 38220

    Office

    $160.67

    Facility

    $55.07

    $18.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 38220

    Office

    $153.10

    Facility

    $53.78

    $25.91 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 38220

    Office

    $193.31

    Facility

    $59.31

    $14.30 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 38220

    Office

    $174.34

    Facility

    $56.17

    $4.67 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 38220

    Office

    $178.18

    Facility

    $57.76

    $0.83 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 38220

    Office

    $169.32

    Facility

    $55.75

    $9.69 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 38220

    Office

    $156.49

    Facility

    $53.24

    $22.52 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 38220

    Office

    $165.43

    Facility

    $54.22

    $13.58 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 38220

    Office

    $165.34

    Facility

    $57.04

    $13.67 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 38220

    Office

    $157.13

    Facility

    $54.67

    $21.88 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 38220

    Office

    $169.20

    Facility

    $53.72

    $9.81 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 38220

    Office

    $159.94

    Facility

    $54.56

    $19.07 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 38220

    Office

    $161.65

    Facility

    $54.81

    $17.36 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 38220

    Office

    $150.26

    Facility

    $53.52

    $28.75 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 38220

    Office

    $149.43

    Facility

    $52.80

    $29.58 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 38220

    Office

    $167.67

    Facility

    $55.44

    $11.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 38220

    Office

    $158.17

    Facility

    $53.47

    $20.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 38220

    Office

    $165.89

    Facility

    $53.66

    $13.12 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 38220

    Office

    $156.13

    Facility

    $52.55

    $22.88 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 38220

    Office

    $172.45

    Facility

    $55.62

    $6.56 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 38220

    Office

    $190.43

    Facility

    $60.25

    $11.42 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 38220

    Office

    $181.08

    Facility

    $58.53

    $2.07 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 38220

    Office

    $157.85

    Facility

    $54.94

    $21.16 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 38220

    Office

    $167.30

    Facility

    $54.96

    $11.71 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 38220

    Office

    $196.49

    Facility

    $63.05

    $17.48 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 38220

    Office

    $181.99

    Facility

    $59.10

    $2.98 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 38220

    Office

    $194.36

    Facility

    $61.71

    $15.35 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 38220

    Office

    $160.50

    Facility

    $53.88

    $18.51 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 38220

    Office

    $156.77

    Facility

    $54.31

    $22.24 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 38220

    Office

    $153.56

    Facility

    $53.35

    $25.45 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 38220

    Office

    $181.47

    Facility

    $56.78

    $2.46 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 38220

    Office

    $166.28

    Facility

    $54.50

    $12.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 38220

    Office

    $174.11

    Facility

    $57.28

    $4.90 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 38220

    Office

    $157.21

    Facility

    $54.18

    $21.80 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 38220

    Office

    $169.01

    Facility

    $55.55

    $10.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 38220

    Office

    $172.23

    Facility

    $56.30

    $6.78 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 38220

    Office

    $157.68

    Facility

    $53.98

    $21.33 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 38220

    Office

    $165.68

    Facility

    $53.45

    $13.33 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 38220

    Office

    $154.85

    Facility

    $52.84

    $24.16 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 38220

    Office

    $174.69

    Facility

    $55.96

    $4.32 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 38220

    Office

    $156.16

    Facility

    $54.03

    $22.85 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 38220

    Office

    $166.19

    Facility

    $54.98

    $12.82 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 38220

    Office

    $167.10

    Facility

    $55.32

    $11.91 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 38220

    Office

    $165.88

    Facility

    $55.22

    $13.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 38220

    Office

    $166.59

    Facility

    $55.15

    $12.42 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 38220

    Office

    $168.24

    Facility

    $56.79

    $10.77 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 38220

    Office

    $160.98

    Facility

    $54.47

    $18.03 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 38220

    Office

    $159.83

    Facility

    $54.34

    $19.18 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 38220

    Office

    $164.65

    Facility

    $54.33

    $14.36 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 38220

    Office

    $169.01

    Facility

    $55.55

    $10.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 38220

    Office

    $164.93

    Facility

    $53.83

    $14.08 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 38220

    Office

    $174.12

    Facility

    $55.94

    $4.89 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 38220

    Office

    $197.58

    Facility

    $59.88

    $18.57 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 38220

    Office

    $160.32

    Facility

    $52.80

    $18.69 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 38220

    Office

    $152.52

    Facility

    $54.99

    $26.49 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 38220

    Office

    $166.89

    Facility

    $54.66

    $12.12 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

38220 · 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.

$148.51

$202.55

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$194.031
AL$150.671
AR$148.511
AZ$163.351
CA$179.00–$226.0929
CO$175.521
CT$178.761
DC$192.481
DE$166.061
FL$163.66–$177.423
GA$154.69–$170.402
GU$183.611
HI$183.611
IA$155.181
ID$156.041
IL$158.44–$173.664
IN$156.961
KS$154.131
KY$153.481
LA$153.10–$160.672
MA$174.34–$193.312
MD$169.32–$192.483
ME$156.49–$165.432
MI$157.13–$165.342
MN$169.201
MO$150.26–$161.653
MS$149.431
MT$167.671
NC$158.171
ND$165.891
NE$156.131
NH$172.451
NJ$181.08–$190.432
NM$157.851
NV$167.301
NY$160.50–$196.495
OH$156.771
OK$153.561
OR$166.28–$181.472
PA$157.21–$174.112
PR$169.011
RI$172.231
SC$157.681
SD$165.681
TN$154.851
TX$156.16–$174.698
UT$159.831
VA$164.65–$192.482
VI$169.011
VT$164.931
WA$174.12–$197.582
WI$160.321
WV$152.521
WY$166.891

Explore 38220 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

El Centro is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 18 cities and communities in California, 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 California →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 38220 in El Centro, the physician’s office rate is $179.01 and the facility-setting rate is $56.01: a difference of $123.00.

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 38220 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$196.91

$179.01 × 110% = $196.91

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 38220 in El Centro.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,722

Code
38220
Physician work
1.17
Practice expense
3.76
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

10

Locality
El Centro
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.541
Office / nonfacility calculation for 38220 in El Centro
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.17× 1.0171.1899
Practice expense3.76× 1.0964.1210
Malpractice0.09× 0.5410.0487
Total RVUs5.3595
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$179.01

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

Open 38220 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.171.017
Practice expense3.761.096
Malpractice0.090.541

(1.17 × 1.017 + 3.76 × 1.096 + 0.09 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $179.01

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.171.017
Practice expense0.41.096
Malpractice0.090.541

(1.17 × 1.017 + 0.4 × 1.096 + 0.09 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $56.01

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

38220 · Office / nonfacility

$179.01

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $16.89 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $162.12 to $179.01 (10.4%).

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

    $162.12changed to$179.01

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.20 changed to 1.17
    • Practice expense RVU 3.42 changed to 3.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.570 changed to 0.541

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $162.12

    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$179.01$56.01RVU26D
2026-07-01$179.01$56.01RVU26C
2026-04-01$179.01$56.01RVU26B
2026-01-01$179.01$56.01RVU26A
2025-10-01$162.12$66.30RVU25D
2025-07-01$162.12$66.30RVU25C
2025-04-01$162.12$66.30RVU25B
2025-01-01$162.12$66.30RVU25A

38220 billing questions

How is 38220 different from 38221?

38220 represents aspiration of liquid marrow for diagnostic testing; 38221 represents obtaining a core biopsy specimen. Use 38222 when both aspiration and biopsy are performed.

Can 38220 and 38221 be reported together for the same encounter?

When both diagnostic aspiration and biopsy are performed, report 38222 rather than separately reporting 38220 and 38221.

Does 38220 include interpretation of the marrow specimen?

The procedure code represents obtaining the aspirate. A pathologist may separately report marrow smear interpretation, such as 85097, when that service is performed and documented.

How does CMS price bilateral aspiration?

CMS pays a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 at 150%. Document the bilateral procedure and report modifier 50 when appropriate.

What happens when other procedures are performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and the other applicable procedures at 50% when performed in the same session.

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 38220PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,722 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for El CentroGPCI2026.csv, line 10 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet