Choose 88121 when the urinary in situ hybridization analysis is computer-assisted. 88120 describes the corresponding three-to-five-probe service without computer assistance.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
88121 in El Centro
Office / nonfacility
$428.27
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 88121: Computer-assisted urinary FISH analysis
Computer-assisted in situ hybridization evaluates urinary tract cells with three to five probes, typically supporting assessment or surveillance for urothelial carcinoma.
88121 represents computer-assisted cytopathologic analysis of a urinary tract specimen using in situ hybridization with a panel of three to five probes. The method evaluates probe signals in urothelial cells for chromosomal changes associated with urothelial carcinoma; it may be used when evaluating hematuria or monitoring a patient with a history of bladder cancer. Laboratory staff prepare and analyze the specimen, with a pathologist or other qualified professional interpreting the findings. Pathology and molecular diagnostic laboratories commonly perform this service.
Report one unit for each specimen examined. Documentation should identify the urinary specimen, the probe panel and count, the computer-assisted method, and the interpretation. This distinguishes 88121 from 88120, which describes the corresponding service without computer assistance. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.
CMS billing rules for 88121
- 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 RVU0.98 · 8%
- Practice expense (office) RVU10.77 · 91%
- Malpractice RVU0.04 · 0%
21.5K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1118 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.
88121 compared with similar codes
Office rates for El Centro, from the same CMS release.
88112 is a cell-enhanced cytology examination focused on cell morphology. 88121 is a probe-based molecular analysis of a urinary tract specimen.
88104 reports morphologic examination of a fluid or washing smear. 88121 reports computer-assisted in situ hybridization with three to five probes.
The same code, a different location
How does El Centro compare?
In Bakersfield, the office rate for 88121 is $428.43—$0.16 higher than the $428.27 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.
88121 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
El Centro · This locality
$428.27
$428.43
$0.16 higher than El Centro
$428.27
The same base rate than El Centro
$428.27
The same base rate than El Centro
$428.27
The same base rate than El Centro
$32.25 higher than El Centro
$428.27
The same base rate 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, 88121 ranges from $342.43 in Arkansas to $555.78 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 · 88121
Office
$428.27
Facility
Unavailable
The same base rate than El Centro for the office setting.
Modesto
California · 88121
Office
$428.27
Facility
Unavailable
The same base rate than El Centro for the office setting.
Napa
California · 88121
Office
$509.59
Facility
Unavailable
$81.32 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · 88121
Office
$459.68
Facility
Unavailable
$31.41 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Redding
California · 88121
Office
$428.27
Facility
Unavailable
The same base rate than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of California
California · 88121
Office
$428.27
Facility
Unavailable
The same base rate than El Centro for the office setting.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · 88121
Office
$428.72
Facility
Unavailable
$0.45 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · 88121
Office
$452.99
Facility
Unavailable
$24.72 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Salinas
California · 88121
Office
$451.39
Facility
Unavailable
$23.12 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · 88121
Office
$464.67
Facility
Unavailable
$36.40 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · 88121
Office
$543.67
Facility
Unavailable
$115.40 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · 88121
Office
$543.63
Facility
Unavailable
$115.36 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · 88121
Office
$555.78
Facility
Unavailable
$127.51 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · 88121
Office
$555.59
Facility
Unavailable
$127.32 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · 88121
Office
$443.74
Facility
Unavailable
$15.47 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · 88121
Office
$471.21
Facility
Unavailable
$42.94 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · 88121
Office
$453.81
Facility
Unavailable
$25.54 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · 88121
Office
$476.18
Facility
Unavailable
$47.91 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Stockton
California · 88121
Office
$428.27
Facility
Unavailable
The same base rate than El Centro for the office setting.
Vallejo
California · 88121
Office
$509.53
Facility
Unavailable
$81.26 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Visalia
California · 88121
Office
$428.27
Facility
Unavailable
The same base rate than El Centro for the office setting.
Yuba City
California · 88121
Office
$428.27
Facility
Unavailable
The same base rate than El Centro for the office setting.
Dc + Md/Va Suburbs
District of Columbia · 88121
Office
$459.75
Facility
Unavailable
$31.48 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Miami
Florida · 88121
Office
$410.59
Facility
Unavailable
$17.68 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Chicago
Illinois · 88121
Office
$397.55
Facility
Unavailable
$30.72 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Manhattan
New York · 88121
Office
$454.95
Facility
Unavailable
$26.68 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Alaska*
Alaska · 88121
Office
$432.95
Facility
Unavailable
$4.68 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Alabama
Alabama · 88121
Office
$348.25
Facility
Unavailable
$80.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Arkansas
Arkansas · 88121
Office
$342.43
Facility
Unavailable
$85.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Arizona
Arizona · 88121
Office
$382.45
Facility
Unavailable
$45.82 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Colorado
Colorado · 88121
Office
$416.92
Facility
Unavailable
$11.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Connecticut
Connecticut · 88121
Office
$422.43
Facility
Unavailable
$5.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Delaware
Delaware · 88121
Office
$389.51
Facility
Unavailable
$38.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · 88121
Office
$399.55
Facility
Unavailable
$28.72 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · 88121
Office
$378.64
Facility
Unavailable
$49.63 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Atlanta
Georgia · 88121
Office
$399.92
Facility
Unavailable
$28.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · 88121
Office
$355.20
Facility
Unavailable
$73.07 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · 88121
Office
$442.52
Facility
Unavailable
$14.25 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Iowa
Iowa · 88121
Office
$362.41
Facility
Unavailable
$65.86 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Idaho
Idaho · 88121
Office
$364.31
Facility
Unavailable
$63.96 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
East St. Louis
Illinois · 88121
Office
$366.37
Facility
Unavailable
$61.90 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · 88121
Office
$363.25
Facility
Unavailable
$65.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · 88121
Office
$404.77
Facility
Unavailable
$23.50 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Indiana
Indiana · 88121
Office
$366.85
Facility
Unavailable
$61.42 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Kansas
Kansas · 88121
Office
$358.60
Facility
Unavailable
$69.67 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Kentucky
Kentucky · 88121
Office
$353.75
Facility
Unavailable
$74.52 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
New Orleans
Louisiana · 88121
Office
$372.75
Facility
Unavailable
$55.52 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · 88121
Office
$352.37
Facility
Unavailable
$75.90 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · 88121
Office
$464.78
Facility
Unavailable
$36.51 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 88121
Office
$413.11
Facility
Unavailable
$15.16 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · 88121
Office
$420.90
Facility
Unavailable
$7.37 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · 88121
Office
$398.33
Facility
Unavailable
$29.94 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · 88121
Office
$364.51
Facility
Unavailable
$63.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Southern Maine
Maine · 88121
Office
$390.07
Facility
Unavailable
$38.20 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Detroit
Michigan · 88121
Office
$382.12
Facility
Unavailable
$46.15 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · 88121
Office
$362.67
Facility
Unavailable
$65.60 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Minnesota
Minnesota · 88121
Office
$403.29
Facility
Unavailable
$24.98 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · 88121
Office
$371.82
Facility
Unavailable
$56.45 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · 88121
Office
$376.53
Facility
Unavailable
$51.74 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · 88121
Office
$344.12
Facility
Unavailable
$84.15 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Mississippi
Mississippi · 88121
Office
$343.45
Facility
Unavailable
$84.82 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Montana**
Montana · 88121
Office
$393.79
Facility
Unavailable
$34.48 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
North Carolina
North Carolina · 88121
Office
$369.21
Facility
Unavailable
$59.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · 88121
Office
$393.00
Facility
Unavailable
$35.27 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Nebraska
Nebraska · 88121
Office
$365.27
Facility
Unavailable
$63.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · 88121
Office
$408.38
Facility
Unavailable
$19.89 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · 88121
Office
$453.51
Facility
Unavailable
$25.24 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · 88121
Office
$428.33
Facility
Unavailable
$0.06 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
New Mexico
New Mexico · 88121
Office
$364.21
Facility
Unavailable
$64.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Nevada**
Nevada · 88121
Office
$393.93
Facility
Unavailable
$34.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · 88121
Office
$465.03
Facility
Unavailable
$36.76 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · 88121
Office
$429.72
Facility
Unavailable
$1.45 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Queens
New York · 88121
Office
$461.95
Facility
Unavailable
$33.68 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of New York
New York · 88121
Office
$375.41
Facility
Unavailable
$52.86 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Ohio
Ohio · 88121
Office
$362.51
Facility
Unavailable
$65.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 88121
Office
$355.01
Facility
Unavailable
$73.26 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Portland
Oregon · 88121
Office
$433.91
Facility
Unavailable
$5.64 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · 88121
Office
$391.96
Facility
Unavailable
$36.31 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · 88121
Office
$409.39
Facility
Unavailable
$18.88 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 88121
Office
$364.23
Facility
Unavailable
$64.04 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · 88121
Office
$397.73
Facility
Unavailable
$30.54 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 88121
Office
$406.15
Facility
Unavailable
$22.12 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
South Carolina
South Carolina · 88121
Office
$366.26
Facility
Unavailable
$62.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · 88121
Office
$392.91
Facility
Unavailable
$35.36 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Tennessee
Tennessee · 88121
Office
$360.44
Facility
Unavailable
$67.83 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Austin
Texas · 88121
Office
$414.57
Facility
Unavailable
$13.70 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Beaumont
Texas · 88121
Office
$361.33
Facility
Unavailable
$66.94 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Brazoria
Texas · 88121
Office
$390.53
Facility
Unavailable
$37.74 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Dallas
Texas · 88121
Office
$392.46
Facility
Unavailable
$35.81 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Fort Worth
Texas · 88121
Office
$388.88
Facility
Unavailable
$39.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Galveston
Texas · 88121
Office
$391.31
Facility
Unavailable
$36.96 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Houston
Texas · 88121
Office
$392.04
Facility
Unavailable
$36.23 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Texas
Texas · 88121
Office
$375.32
Facility
Unavailable
$52.95 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Utah
Utah · 88121
Office
$372.08
Facility
Unavailable
$56.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Virginia
Virginia · 88121
Office
$387.29
Facility
Unavailable
$40.98 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · 88121
Office
$397.73
Facility
Unavailable
$30.54 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Vermont
Vermont · 88121
Office
$389.54
Facility
Unavailable
$38.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · 88121
Office
$412.97
Facility
Unavailable
$15.30 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · 88121
Office
$476.85
Facility
Unavailable
$48.58 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 88121
Office
$377.76
Facility
Unavailable
$50.51 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
West Virginia
West Virginia · 88121
Office
$347.25
Facility
Unavailable
$81.02 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · 88121
Office
$393.45
Facility
Unavailable
$34.82 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
See how rates vary across the country
88121 · 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.
$342.43
$492.03
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $432.95 | 1 |
| AL | $348.25 | 1 |
| AR | $342.43 | 1 |
| AZ | $382.45 | 1 |
| CA | $428.27–$555.78 | 29 |
| CO | $416.92 | 1 |
| CT | $422.43 | 1 |
| DC | $459.75 | 1 |
| DE | $389.51 | 1 |
| FL | $378.64–$410.59 | 3 |
| GA | $355.20–$399.92 | 2 |
| GU | $442.52 | 1 |
| HI | $442.52 | 1 |
| IA | $362.41 | 1 |
| ID | $364.31 | 1 |
| IL | $363.25–$404.77 | 4 |
| IN | $366.85 | 1 |
| KS | $358.60 | 1 |
| KY | $353.75 | 1 |
| LA | $352.37–$372.75 | 2 |
| MA | $413.11–$464.78 | 2 |
| MD | $398.33–$459.75 | 3 |
| ME | $364.51–$390.07 | 2 |
| MI | $362.67–$382.12 | 2 |
| MN | $403.29 | 1 |
| MO | $344.12–$376.53 | 3 |
| MS | $343.45 | 1 |
| MT | $393.79 | 1 |
| NC | $369.21 | 1 |
| ND | $393.00 | 1 |
| NE | $365.27 | 1 |
| NH | $408.38 | 1 |
| NJ | $428.33–$453.51 | 2 |
| NM | $364.21 | 1 |
| NV | $393.93 | 1 |
| NY | $375.41–$465.03 | 5 |
| OH | $362.51 | 1 |
| OK | $355.01 | 1 |
| OR | $391.96–$433.91 | 2 |
| PA | $364.23–$409.39 | 2 |
| PR | $397.73 | 1 |
| RI | $406.15 | 1 |
| SC | $366.26 | 1 |
| SD | $392.91 | 1 |
| TN | $360.44 | 1 |
| TX | $361.33–$414.57 | 8 |
| UT | $372.08 | 1 |
| VA | $387.29–$459.75 | 2 |
| VI | $397.73 | 1 |
| VT | $389.54 | 1 |
| WA | $412.97–$476.85 | 2 |
| WI | $377.76 | 1 |
| WV | $347.25 | 1 |
| WY | $393.45 | 1 |
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 88121 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$471.10
$428.27 × 110% = $471.10
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.
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 88121 in El Centro.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
11,118
- Code
- 88121
- Physician work
- 0.98
- Practice expense
- 10.77
- Malpractice
- 0.04
GPCI2026.csv
10
- Locality
- El Centro
- Physician work
- 1.017
- Practice expense
- 1.096
- Malpractice
- 0.541
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.98 | × 1.017 | 0.9967 |
| Practice expense | 10.77 | × 1.096 | 11.8039 |
| Malpractice | 0.04 | × 0.541 | 0.0216 |
| Total RVUs | 12.8222 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$428.27
Open 88121 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.98 | 1.017 |
| Practice expense | 10.77 | 1.096 |
| Malpractice | 0.04 | 0.541 |
(0.98 × 1.017 + 10.77 × 1.096 + 0.04 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $428.27
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
88121 · Office / nonfacility
$428.27
Effective 2026-10-01
The base rate is $1.59 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $426.68 to $428.27 (0.4%).
It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.
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
January 1, 2026
RVU26A
$426.68changed to$428.27
- Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
- Work RVU 1.00 changed to 0.98
- Practice expense RVU 11.12 changed to 10.77
- 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.
January 1, 2025
RVU25A
Earliest loaded release: $426.68
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 from | Office / nonfacility | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | $428.27 | Not available in this setting | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | $428.27 | Not available in this setting | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | $428.27 | Not available in this setting | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | $428.27 | Not available in this setting | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | $426.68 | Not available in this setting | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | $426.68 | Not available in this setting | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | $426.68 | Not available in this setting | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | $426.68 | Not available in this setting | RVU25A |
88121 billing questions
How does 88121 differ from 88120?
Both involve urinary tract specimens and three to five probes. 88121 is the computer-assisted service; 88120 is the corresponding service without computer assistance.
How many units should be reported?
Report one unit for each specimen examined. The three-to-five-probe range describes the panel for the service, not the number of units.
Which modifiers identify the components?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service involving equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Can 88121 be reported with conventional urine cytology?
88121 represents molecular in situ hybridization, while conventional cytology evaluates cell morphology. Report both only when both distinct services were performed and documented.
What documentation supports reporting 88121?
Record the urinary tract specimen, the computer-assisted in situ hybridization method, the three-to-five-probe panel, and the professional interpretation when that component is billed.
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.
