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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

78801 in El Centro

Office / nonfacility

$259.85

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 78801: Tumor localization, multiple areas

Reports one-day radiopharmaceutical tumor-localization imaging covering two or more areas, such as when a nuclear medicine study evaluates multiple suspected tumor sites.

This nuclear medicine study uses a radioactive tracer to produce images that help locate tumor tissue in two or more areas during one day of imaging. A nuclear medicine technologist typically performs the acquisition in a hospital or imaging center, and a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician interprets the study. The selected code reflects the extent and timing of the imaging, not the number of lesions found.

Document the clinical indication, radiopharmaceutical used, areas imaged, imaging date, and interpretation. Report one service for the two-or-more-area, one-day study; the code is not selected per lesion. It is a diagnostic test with separately identifiable professional and technical components: modifier 26 reports interpretation, modifier TC reports equipment and staff, and no component modifier represents the global service. Radiopharmaceutical injection may be separately represented by 78808 when applicable.

CMS billing rules for 78801

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 RVU0.71 · 10%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU6.40 · 89%
  • Malpractice RVU0.08 · 1%

838

Medicare services in 2024 · #3105 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.

78801 compared with similar codes

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

78800

Tumor imaging

Single area, one day

$250.57

Use 78800 for one imaged area during one day; use 78801 when two or more areas are imaged that day.

78802

Tumor imaging

Whole body, single day

$292.61

78802 describes whole-body tumor localization with one-day imaging. 78801 describes two or more areas rather than a whole-body study.

78804

Tumor localization

Whole body, two or more days

$610.01

78804 is for whole-body imaging performed over two or more days; 78801 is for two or more areas imaged in one day.

78831

Tumor SPECT

Two or more areas

$675.09

78831 is the SPECT study for two or more areas. Choose 78801 when the study is not reported as SPECT.

The same code, a different location

How does El Centro compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 78801 is $260.08—$0.23 higher than the $259.85 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

78801 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. El Centro · This locality

    $259.85

  2. $0.23 higher than El Centro

  3. Chico

    $259.84

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  4. Fresno

    $259.84

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  5. $0.01 lower than El Centro

  6. $19.50 higher than El Centro

  7. Madera

    $259.84

    $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, 78801 ranges from $208.72 in Arkansas to $336.01 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 · 78801

    Office

    $259.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 78801

    Office

    $259.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 78801

    Office

    $308.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $48.46 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 78801

    Office

    $278.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.86 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 78801

    Office

    $259.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 78801

    Office

    $259.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 78801

    Office

    $260.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.86 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 78801

    Office

    $274.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.76 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 78801

    Office

    $273.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.79 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 78801

    Office

    $281.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.69 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 78801

    Office

    $328.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $68.75 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78801

    Office

    $328.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $68.66 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78801

    Office

    $336.01

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $76.16 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78801

    Office

    $335.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $75.78 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 78801

    Office

    $269.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.18 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 78801

    Office

    $285.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.52 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 78801

    Office

    $275.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.21 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 78801

    Office

    $288.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.51 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 78801

    Office

    $259.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 78801

    Office

    $308.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $48.33 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 78801

    Office

    $259.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 78801

    Office

    $259.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 78801

    Office

    $279.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.94 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 78801

    Office

    $253.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.85 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 78801

    Office

    $244.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 78801

    Office

    $277.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.02 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 78801

    Office

    $264.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.85 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 78801

    Office

    $212.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $47.58 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 78801

    Office

    $208.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $51.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 78801

    Office

    $233.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.71 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 78801

    Office

    $253.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.32 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 78801

    Office

    $257.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.20 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 78801

    Office

    $237.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.41 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 78801

    Office

    $245.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 78801

    Office

    $232.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 78801

    Office

    $244.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.67 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 78801

    Office

    $217.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $42.27 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 78801

    Office

    $268.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.46 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 78801

    Office

    $220.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.48 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 78801

    Office

    $221.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $38.21 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 78801

    Office

    $225.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $34.09 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 78801

    Office

    $223.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.79 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 78801

    Office

    $248.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.70 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 78801

    Office

    $223.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.68 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 78801

    Office

    $218.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $41.54 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 78801

    Office

    $216.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $43.65 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 78801

    Office

    $227.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.95 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 78801

    Office

    $215.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $44.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 78801

    Office

    $282.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.45 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 78801

    Office

    $251.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.53 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 78801

    Office

    $256.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.08 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 78801

    Office

    $242.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.11 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 78801

    Office

    $222.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $37.81 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 78801

    Office

    $237.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.61 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 78801

    Office

    $234.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 78801

    Office

    $221.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $37.95 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 78801

    Office

    $244.47

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.38 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 78801

    Office

    $227.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.80 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 78801

    Office

    $229.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.95 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 78801

    Office

    $210.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $49.27 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 78801

    Office

    $209.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $50.11 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 78801

    Office

    $240.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.70 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 78801

    Office

    $224.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $34.98 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 78801

    Office

    $238.57

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.28 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 78801

    Office

    $222.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $37.82 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 78801

    Office

    $248.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.27 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 78801

    Office

    $276.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.18 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 78801

    Office

    $261.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.18 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 78801

    Office

    $222.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.90 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 78801

    Office

    $239.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.93 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 78801

    Office

    $284.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.51 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 78801

    Office

    $262.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.24 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 78801

    Office

    $281.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.91 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 78801

    Office

    $228.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.18 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 78801

    Office

    $221.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $38.27 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 78801

    Office

    $216.68

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $43.17 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 78801

    Office

    $263.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.73 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 78801

    Office

    $238.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 78801

    Office

    $249.86

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.99 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 78801

    Office

    $222.48

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $37.37 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 78801

    Office

    $242.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 78801

    Office

    $247.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.48 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 78801

    Office

    $223.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 78801

    Office

    $238.38

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.47 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 78801

    Office

    $219.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $40.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 78801

    Office

    $252.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.56 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 78801

    Office

    $220.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 78801

    Office

    $237.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 78801

    Office

    $239.13

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.72 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 78801

    Office

    $237.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.82 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 78801

    Office

    $238.39

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.46 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 78801

    Office

    $239.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 78801

    Office

    $228.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $30.86 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 78801

    Office

    $227.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.80 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 78801

    Office

    $235.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.12 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 78801

    Office

    $242.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 78801

    Office

    $236.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.16 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 78801

    Office

    $251.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.70 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 78801

    Office

    $289.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.52 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 78801

    Office

    $229.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $30.52 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 78801

    Office

    $213.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $46.55 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 78801

    Office

    $239.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

78801 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

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.

$208.72

$297.92

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$264.701
AL$212.271
AR$208.721
AZ$233.141
CA$259.84–$336.0129
CO$253.531
CT$257.651
DC$279.791
DE$237.441
FL$232.09–$253.003
GA$217.58–$244.182
GU$268.311
HI$268.311
IA$220.371
ID$221.641
IL$223.06–$248.154
IN$223.171
KS$218.311
KY$216.201
LA$215.46–$227.902
MA$251.32–$282.302
MD$242.74–$279.793
ME$222.04–$237.242
MI$221.90–$234.502
MN$244.471
MO$210.58–$229.903
MS$209.741
MT$240.151
NC$224.871
ND$238.571
NE$222.031
NH$248.581
NJ$261.03–$276.032
NM$222.951
NV$239.921
NY$228.67–$284.365
OH$221.581
OK$216.681
OR$238.50–$263.582
PA$222.48–$249.862
PR$242.461
RI$247.371
SC$223.511
SD$238.381
TN$219.461
TX$220.72–$252.298
UT$227.051
VA$235.73–$279.792
VI$242.461
VT$236.691
WA$251.15–$289.372
WI$229.331
WV$213.301
WY$239.461

Explore 78801 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.

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 78801 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$285.84

$259.85 × 110% = $285.84

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.

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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 78801 in El Centro.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,515

Code
78801
Physician work
0.71
Practice expense
6.40
Malpractice
0.08

GPCI2026.csv

10

Locality
El Centro
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.541
Office / nonfacility calculation for 78801 in El Centro
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.71× 1.0170.7221
Practice expense6.40× 1.0967.0144
Malpractice0.08× 0.5410.0433
Total RVUs7.7798
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$259.85

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

Open 78801 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.711.017
Practice expense6.41.096
Malpractice0.080.541

(0.71 × 1.017 + 6.4 × 1.096 + 0.08 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $259.85

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

78801 · Office / nonfacility

$259.85

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $4.10 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $255.75 to $259.85 (1.6%).

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

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

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

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $255.75changed to$259.85

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.73 changed to 0.71
    • Practice expense RVU 6.52 changed to 6.40
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08
    • 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: $255.75

    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$259.85Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$259.85Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$259.85Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$259.85Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$255.75Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$255.75Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$255.75Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$255.75Not available in this settingRVU25A

78801 billing questions

When should 78801 be selected instead of 78800?

Use 78801 when tumor-localization imaging covers two or more areas in one day. Code 78800 describes one area with one-day imaging.

Does this code include radiopharmaceutical administration?

The imaging code describes the localization study. Code 78808 represents injection for a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical study and may be reported with it when applicable.

How are the professional and technical services billed?

Use modifier 26 for the interpretation and report, or modifier TC for the equipment and staff. Report the service without either modifier when billing globally.

What documentation supports reporting two or more areas?

The record should identify the areas imaged, the study date, the radiopharmaceutical, the indication, and the interpreting physician’s findings. It should support imaging of at least two areas during the one-day study.

How does 78801 differ from whole-body imaging?

78801 is for two or more areas imaged in one day. Whole-body studies use the whole-body codes, with 78804 identifying imaging over two or more days.

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 78801PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,515 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for El CentroGPCI2026.csv, line 10 (RVU26D)