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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

78016 in El Centro

Office / nonfacility

$272.25

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.

Nuclear medicine

About 78016: Whole-body thyroid cancer metastasis imaging

Reports whole-body nuclear imaging to evaluate thyroid carcinoma for metastatic disease, such as iodine-avid spread beyond the thyroid bed.

This study images the body for metastatic thyroid carcinoma after administration of a thyroid-seeking radiopharmaceutical. It is commonly used in the evaluation or follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer, including searches for iodine-avid disease outside the thyroid bed. Nuclear medicine staff perform the imaging, and a nuclear medicine physician or radiologist interprets the findings. The whole-body extent distinguishes this service from limited-area thyroid cancer metastasis imaging.

Report 78016 when the documented study covers the whole body for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. The record should identify the clinical indication and support the extent and interpretation of the imaging performed. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment-and-staff service, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. The professional and technical portions may be billed separately by the respective providers when applicable.

CMS billing rules for 78016

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 RVU0.80 · 11%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU6.66 · 88%
  • Malpractice RVU0.07 · 1%

16

Medicare services in 2024 · #6052 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.

78016 compared with similar codes

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

78015

Thyroid metastasis imaging

Limited anatomic area

$220.47

Choose 78016 for whole-body metastasis imaging and 78015 when imaging is limited to an area.

78018

Thyroid metastasis scan

Whole body with additional imaging

$298.13

78018 is the related whole-body study with additional views; 78016 describes whole-body imaging without that distinction.

78020

Thyroid uptake

Whole-body metastasis measurement

$84.46

78020 describes quantitative uptake assessment for thyroid carcinoma metastases, not whole-body imaging.

78014

Thyroid scan

Quantitative uptake measurement

$228.40

78014 is thyroid imaging with uptake for thyroid evaluation; 78016 is whole-body imaging directed at thyroid carcinoma metastases.

The same code, a different location

How does El Centro compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 78016 is $272.46—$0.21 higher than the $272.25 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

78016 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. El Centro · This locality

    $272.25

  2. Bakersfield

    $272.46

    $0.21 higher than El Centro

  3. Chico

    $272.23

    $0.02 lower than El Centro

  4. Fresno

    $272.23

    $0.02 lower than El Centro

  5. Hanford-Corcoran

    $272.23

    $0.02 lower than El Centro

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

    $292.53

    $20.28 higher than El Centro

  7. Madera

    $272.23

    $0.02 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, 78016 ranges from $219.01 in Arkansas to $351.69 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 · 78016

    Office

    $272.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 78016

    Office

    $272.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 78016

    Office

    $322.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $50.53 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 78016

    Office

    $291.86

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.61 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 78016

    Office

    $272.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 78016

    Office

    $272.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 78016

    Office

    $273.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.75 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 78016

    Office

    $287.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.40 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 78016

    Office

    $286.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.37 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 78016

    Office

    $294.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.59 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 78016

    Office

    $343.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $71.74 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78016

    Office

    $343.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $71.66 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78016

    Office

    $351.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $79.44 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78016

    Office

    $351.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $79.11 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 78016

    Office

    $281.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.55 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 78016

    Office

    $298.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.56 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 78016

    Office

    $288.10

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.85 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 78016

    Office

    $301.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.69 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 78016

    Office

    $272.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 78016

    Office

    $322.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $50.42 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 78016

    Office

    $272.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 78016

    Office

    $272.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 78016

    Office

    $292.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.56 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 78016

    Office

    $264.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.05 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 78016

    Office

    $255.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.41 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 78016

    Office

    $290.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.38 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 78016

    Office

    $278.28

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.03 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 78016

    Office

    $222.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $49.56 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 78016

    Office

    $219.01

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $53.24 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 78016

    Office

    $244.28

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.97 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 78016

    Office

    $265.55

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.70 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 78016

    Office

    $269.66

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.59 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 78016

    Office

    $248.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.51 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 78016

    Office

    $256.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.96 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 78016

    Office

    $242.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 78016

    Office

    $255.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.63 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 78016

    Office

    $227.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $44.32 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 78016

    Office

    $281.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.75 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 78016

    Office

    $231.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $41.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 78016

    Office

    $232.48

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.77 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 78016

    Office

    $236.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.17 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 78016

    Office

    $233.47

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $38.78 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 78016

    Office

    $259.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.74 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 78016

    Office

    $234.07

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $38.18 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 78016

    Office

    $228.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $43.26 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 78016

    Office

    $226.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $45.63 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 78016

    Office

    $238.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $33.55 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 78016

    Office

    $225.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $46.42 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 78016

    Office

    $295.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.25 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 78016

    Office

    $263.25

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 78016

    Office

    $268.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.52 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 78016

    Office

    $254.25

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 78016

    Office

    $232.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.42 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 78016

    Office

    $248.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.61 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 78016

    Office

    $245.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.92 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 78016

    Office

    $232.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.79 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 78016

    Office

    $256.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.94 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 78016

    Office

    $237.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $34.36 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 78016

    Office

    $240.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.41 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 78016

    Office

    $220.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $51.50 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 78016

    Office

    $219.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $52.27 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 78016

    Office

    $251.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.75 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 78016

    Office

    $235.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.49 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 78016

    Office

    $250.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 78016

    Office

    $232.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.32 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 78016

    Office

    $260.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.91 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 78016

    Office

    $288.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.69 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 78016

    Office

    $273.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.02 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 78016

    Office

    $233.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $38.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 78016

    Office

    $251.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.91 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 78016

    Office

    $297.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.02 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 78016

    Office

    $274.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.08 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 78016

    Office

    $294.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.49 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 78016

    Office

    $239.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.56 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 78016

    Office

    $232.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $40.08 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 78016

    Office

    $227.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $45.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 78016

    Office

    $276.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.78 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 78016

    Office

    $249.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.33 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 78016

    Office

    $261.56

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.69 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 78016

    Office

    $233.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.11 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 78016

    Office

    $253.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.33 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 78016

    Office

    $259.10

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.15 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 78016

    Office

    $234.25

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $38.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 78016

    Office

    $249.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.29 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 78016

    Office

    $230.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $42.07 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 78016

    Office

    $264.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.05 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 78016

    Office

    $231.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $40.93 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 78016

    Office

    $249.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.04 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 78016

    Office

    $250.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.72 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 78016

    Office

    $248.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.92 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 78016

    Office

    $249.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.49 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 78016

    Office

    $251.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.21 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 78016

    Office

    $239.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.31 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 78016

    Office

    $237.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $34.33 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 78016

    Office

    $247.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.21 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 78016

    Office

    $253.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.33 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 78016

    Office

    $248.13

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.12 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 78016

    Office

    $263.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.16 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 78016

    Office

    $302.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $30.66 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 78016

    Office

    $240.55

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.70 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 78016

    Office

    $223.38

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $48.87 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 78016

    Office

    $250.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

78016 · 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.

$219.01

$311.96

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$278.281
AL$222.691
AR$219.011
AZ$244.281
CA$272.23–$351.6929
CO$265.551
CT$269.661
DC$292.811
DE$248.741
FL$242.90–$264.203
GA$227.93–$255.622
GU$281.001
HI$281.001
IA$231.191
ID$232.481
IL$233.47–$259.514
IN$234.071
KS$228.991
KY$226.621
LA$225.83–$238.702
MA$263.25–$295.502
MD$254.25–$292.813
ME$232.83–$248.642
MI$232.46–$245.332
MN$256.311
MO$220.75–$240.843
MS$219.981
MT$251.501
NC$235.761
ND$250.121
NE$232.931
NH$260.341
NJ$273.27–$288.942
NM$233.521
NV$251.341
NY$239.69–$297.275
OH$232.171
OK$227.191
OR$249.92–$276.032
PA$233.14–$261.562
PR$253.921
RI$259.101
SC$234.251
SD$249.961
TN$230.181
TX$231.32–$264.208
UT$237.921
VA$247.04–$292.812
VI$253.921
VT$248.131
WA$263.09–$302.912
WI$240.551
WV$223.381
WY$250.901

Explore 78016 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 →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 78016 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$299.48

$272.25 × 110% = $299.48

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 78016 in El Centro.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,191

Code
78016
Physician work
0.80
Practice expense
6.66
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

10

Locality
El Centro
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.541
Office / nonfacility calculation for 78016 in El Centro
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.80× 1.0170.8136
Practice expense6.66× 1.0967.2994
Malpractice0.07× 0.5410.0379
Total RVUs8.1508
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$272.25

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

Open 78016 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.81.017
Practice expense6.661.096
Malpractice0.070.541

(0.8 × 1.017 + 6.66 × 1.096 + 0.07 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $272.25

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

78016 · Office / nonfacility

$272.25

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $12.32 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $259.93 to $272.25 (4.7%).

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

    $259.93changed to$272.25

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.82 changed to 0.80
    • Practice expense RVU 6.56 changed to 6.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07
    • 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: $259.93

    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$272.25Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$272.25Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$272.25Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$272.25Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$259.93Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$259.93Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$259.93Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$259.93Not available in this settingRVU25A

78016 billing questions

How does 78016 differ from 78015?

78016 is for whole-body imaging to evaluate thyroid carcinoma metastases. 78015 is used when the metastasis imaging is limited to an area.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

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

What documentation supports 78016?

Document the thyroid carcinoma indication, the whole-body imaging performed, and the interpreting clinician’s findings. The record should support that the study evaluated metastatic disease.

Is 78016 the same as thyroid uptake measurement?

No. 78016 describes whole-body imaging for thyroid carcinoma metastases; 78012 is for thyroid uptake measurement. Select the code for the service actually performed.

How does 78016 differ from 78018?

Both are in the thyroid carcinoma metastasis imaging family. 78018 describes whole-body imaging with additional views, while 78016 represents whole-body imaging.

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 78016PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,191 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for El CentroGPCI2026.csv, line 10 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet