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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

32960 in Modesto

Office / nonfacility

$139.63

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$82.53

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.

Pulmonary procedure

About 32960: Therapeutic pneumothorax induction

Reports deliberate introduction of air into the pleural space to create a therapeutic pneumothorax, rather than drainage of pleural air or fluid.

This service involves intentionally introducing air into the pleural space to produce a pneumothorax for therapeutic purposes. It is distinct from treating a spontaneous pneumothorax by removing air or placing a drain. The procedure is performed by a physician; documentation should establish the therapeutic intent and describe the pleural intervention. The code is rarely reported in current Medicare practice, so the record should make clear what was done rather than relying only on a diagnosis of pneumothorax.

Report 32960 for the therapeutic induction itself, not for thoracentesis or chest-tube drainage. The minor procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction to the others. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 32960

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
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 adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
Assistant at surgery
Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.79 · 45%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU2.08 · 52%
  • Malpractice RVU0.15 · 4%

14

Medicare services in 2024 · #6097 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.

32960 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Modesto, from the same CMS release.

32551

Chest tube

Open thoracostomy

No office rate

Use this code for tube thoracostomy to drain the pleural space. 32960 is for deliberately introducing air to create a therapeutic pneumothorax.

32554

Thoracentesis

Without imaging guidance

$276.94

Thoracentesis removes pleural fluid by needle. It does not describe introducing air for a therapeutic pneumothorax.

32556

Pleural catheter

Without imaging guidance

$908.41

This code describes percutaneous pleural drainage using a catheter. Choose 32960 only when the documented service deliberately creates a therapeutic pneumothorax.

The same code, a different location

How does Modesto compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 32960 is $140.12—$0.49 higher than the $139.63 rate in Modesto. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

32960 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Modesto · This locality

    $139.63

  2. Bakersfield

    $140.12

    $0.49 higher than Modesto

  3. Chico

    $139.63

    The same base rate than Modesto

  4. El Centro

    $139.66

    $0.03 higher than Modesto

  5. Fresno

    $139.63

    The same base rate than Modesto

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $139.63

    The same base rate than Modesto

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

    $147.75

    $8.12 higher than Modesto

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, 32960 ranges from $122.05 in Arkansas to $169.23 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

  • Madera

    California · 32960

    Office

    $139.63

    Facility

    $82.53

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 32960

    Office

    $139.63

    Facility

    $82.53

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 32960

    Office

    $157.67

    Facility

    $88.99

    $18.04 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 32960

    Office

    $146.70

    Facility

    $85.11

    $7.07 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 32960

    Office

    $139.63

    Facility

    $82.53

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 32960

    Office

    $139.63

    Facility

    $82.53

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 32960

    Office

    $141.28

    Facility

    $84.17

    $1.65 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 32960

    Office

    $145.42

    Facility

    $84.82

    $5.79 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 32960

    Office

    $144.85

    Facility

    $84.46

    $5.22 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 32960

    Office

    $147.39

    Facility

    $85.07

    $7.76 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 32960

    Office

    $165.73

    Facility

    $92.26

    $26.10 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

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

    California · 32960

    Office

    $165.55

    Facility

    $92.09

    $25.92 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

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

    California · 32960

    Office

    $169.23

    Facility

    $94.10

    $29.60 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

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

    California · 32960

    Office

    $168.53

    Facility

    $93.40

    $28.90 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 32960

    Office

    $142.62

    Facility

    $83.27

    $2.99 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 32960

    Office

    $148.14

    Facility

    $84.83

    $8.51 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 32960

    Office

    $145.15

    Facility

    $84.40

    $5.52 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 32960

    Office

    $149.58

    Facility

    $85.60

    $9.95 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 32960

    Office

    $139.63

    Facility

    $82.53

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 32960

    Office

    $157.42

    Facility

    $88.75

    $17.79 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 32960

    Office

    $139.63

    Facility

    $82.53

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 32960

    Office

    $139.63

    Facility

    $82.53

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 32960

    Office

    $150.43

    Facility

    $89.05

    $10.80 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 32960

    Office

    $144.78

    Facility

    $90.54

    $5.15 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 32960

    Office

    $141.53

    Facility

    $89.16

    $1.90 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 32960

    Office

    $152.29

    Facility

    $91.74

    $12.66 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 32960

    Office

    $166.43

    Facility

    $110.94

    $26.80 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 32960

    Office

    $123.41

    Facility

    $77.82

    $16.22 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 32960

    Office

    $122.05

    Facility

    $77.29

    $17.58 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 32960

    Office

    $131.40

    Facility

    $80.91

    $8.23 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 32960

    Office

    $138.34

    Facility

    $82.90

    $1.29 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 32960

    Office

    $141.87

    Facility

    $85.75

    $2.24 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 32960

    Office

    $133.23

    Facility

    $81.75

    $6.40 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 32960

    Office

    $139.22

    Facility

    $86.44

    $0.41 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 32960

    Office

    $133.73

    Facility

    $83.92

    $5.90 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 32960

    Office

    $136.57

    Facility

    $83.63

    $3.06 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 32960

    Office

    $127.73

    Facility

    $81.25

    $11.90 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 32960

    Office

    $141.68

    Facility

    $82.44

    $2.05 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 32960

    Office

    $125.35

    Facility

    $77.67

    $14.28 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 32960

    Office

    $126.07

    Facility

    $78.14

    $13.56 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 32960

    Office

    $133.79

    Facility

    $85.86

    $5.84 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 32960

    Office

    $131.05

    Facility

    $83.48

    $8.58 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 32960

    Office

    $140.43

    Facility

    $86.92

    $0.80 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 32960

    Office

    $126.62

    Facility

    $78.32

    $13.01 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 32960

    Office

    $125.12

    Facility

    $78.01

    $14.51 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 32960

    Office

    $126.13

    Facility

    $79.81

    $13.50 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 32960

    Office

    $130.85

    Facility

    $81.82

    $8.78 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 32960

    Office

    $126.07

    Facility

    $79.96

    $13.56 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 32960

    Office

    $149.65

    Facility

    $87.44

    $10.02 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 32960

    Office

    $137.89

    Facility

    $83.03

    $1.74 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 32960

    Office

    $141.49

    Facility

    $85.58

    $1.86 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 32960

    Office

    $135.29

    Facility

    $82.56

    $4.34 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 32960

    Office

    $126.82

    Facility

    $78.88

    $12.81 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 32960

    Office

    $131.80

    Facility

    $80.16

    $7.83 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 32960

    Office

    $135.28

    Facility

    $85.00

    $4.35 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 32960

    Office

    $128.87

    Facility

    $81.30

    $10.76 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 32960

    Office

    $132.76

    Facility

    $79.14

    $6.87 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 32960

    Office

    $129.92

    Facility

    $80.99

    $9.71 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 32960

    Office

    $130.95

    Facility

    $81.34

    $8.68 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 32960

    Office

    $124.55

    Facility

    $79.64

    $15.08 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 32960

    Office

    $123.31

    Facility

    $78.44

    $16.32 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 32960

    Office

    $134.26

    Facility

    $82.16

    $5.37 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 32960

    Office

    $127.81

    Facility

    $79.19

    $11.82 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 32960

    Office

    $131.30

    Facility

    $79.19

    $8.33 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 32960

    Office

    $125.81

    Facility

    $77.71

    $13.82 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 32960

    Office

    $136.49

    Facility

    $82.25

    $3.14 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 32960

    Office

    $149.49

    Facility

    $89.05

    $9.86 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 32960

    Office

    $143.54

    Facility

    $86.64

    $3.91 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 32960

    Office

    $129.51

    Facility

    $81.73

    $10.12 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 32960

    Office

    $133.50

    Facility

    $81.35

    $6.13 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 32960

    Office

    $155.52

    Facility

    $93.57

    $15.89 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 32960

    Office

    $144.61

    Facility

    $87.56

    $4.98 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 32960

    Office

    $152.96

    Facility

    $91.37

    $13.33 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 32960

    Office

    $129.31

    Facility

    $79.81

    $10.32 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 32960

    Office

    $128.27

    Facility

    $80.70

    $11.36 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 32960

    Office

    $125.72

    Facility

    $79.19

    $13.91 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 32960

    Office

    $141.66

    Facility

    $83.77

    $2.03 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 32960

    Office

    $132.51

    Facility

    $80.61

    $7.12 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 32960

    Office

    $139.16

    Facility

    $84.92

    $0.47 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 32960

    Office

    $128.30

    Facility

    $80.47

    $11.33 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 32960

    Office

    $134.96

    Facility

    $82.28

    $4.67 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 32960

    Office

    $137.16

    Facility

    $83.33

    $2.47 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 32960

    Office

    $128.24

    Facility

    $80.09

    $11.39 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 32960

    Office

    $130.94

    Facility

    $78.84

    $8.69 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 32960

    Office

    $125.63

    Facility

    $78.27

    $14.00 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 32960

    Office

    $137.85

    Facility

    $82.72

    $1.78 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 32960

    Office

    $127.66

    Facility

    $80.25

    $11.97 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 32960

    Office

    $133.02

    Facility

    $81.39

    $6.61 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 32960

    Office

    $133.82

    Facility

    $81.92

    $5.81 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 32960

    Office

    $133.19

    Facility

    $81.81

    $6.44 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 32960

    Office

    $133.40

    Facility

    $81.66

    $6.23 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 32960

    Office

    $136.15

    Facility

    $84.41

    $3.48 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 32960

    Office

    $130.24

    Facility

    $80.79

    $9.39 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 32960

    Office

    $129.59

    Facility

    $80.61

    $10.04 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 32960

    Office

    $131.62

    Facility

    $80.40

    $8.01 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 32960

    Office

    $134.96

    Facility

    $82.28

    $4.67 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 32960

    Office

    $131.10

    Facility

    $79.52

    $8.53 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 32960

    Office

    $137.53

    Facility

    $82.67

    $2.10 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 32960

    Office

    $152.11

    Facility

    $88.18

    $12.48 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 32960

    Office

    $127.89

    Facility

    $77.97

    $11.74 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 32960

    Office

    $127.33

    Facility

    $82.05

    $12.30 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 32960

    Office

    $132.97

    Facility

    $80.86

    $6.66 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

32960 · 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.

$122.05

$166.43

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$166.431
AL$123.411
AR$122.051
AZ$131.401
CA$139.63–$169.2329
CO$138.341
CT$141.871
DC$150.431
DE$133.231
FL$133.73–$144.783
GA$127.73–$136.572
GU$141.681
HI$141.681
IA$125.351
ID$126.071
IL$131.05–$141.534
IN$126.621
KS$125.121
KY$126.131
LA$126.07–$130.852
MA$137.89–$149.652
MD$135.29–$150.433
ME$126.82–$131.802
MI$128.87–$135.282
MN$132.761
MO$124.55–$130.953
MS$123.311
MT$134.261
NC$127.811
ND$131.301
NE$125.811
NH$136.491
NJ$143.54–$149.492
NM$129.511
NV$133.501
NY$129.31–$155.525
OH$128.271
OK$125.721
OR$132.51–$141.662
PA$128.30–$139.162
PR$134.961
RI$137.161
SC$128.241
SD$130.941
TN$125.631
TX$127.66–$137.858
UT$129.591
VA$131.62–$150.432
VI$134.961
VT$131.101
WA$137.53–$152.112
WI$127.891
WV$127.331
WY$132.971

Explore 32960 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Modesto is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 33 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 32960 in Modesto, the physician’s office rate is $139.63 and the facility-setting rate is $82.53: a difference of $57.10.

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 32960 in Modesto. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$153.59

$139.63 × 110% = $153.59

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 32960 in Modesto.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,808

Code
32960
Physician work
1.79
Practice expense
2.08
Malpractice
0.15

GPCI2026.csv

16

Locality
Modesto
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 32960 in Modesto
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.79× 1.0171.8204
Practice expense2.08× 1.0962.2797
Malpractice0.15× 0.5360.0804
Total RVUs4.1805
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Modesto$139.63

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

Open 32960 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.791.017
Practice expense2.081.096
Malpractice0.150.536

(1.79 × 1.017 + 2.08 × 1.096 + 0.15 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $139.63

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.791.017
Practice expense0.521.096
Malpractice0.150.536

(1.79 × 1.017 + 0.52 × 1.096 + 0.15 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $82.53

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

32960 · Office / nonfacility

$139.63

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $13.10 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $126.53 to $139.63 (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

    $126.53changed to$139.63

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.84 changed to 1.79
    • Practice expense RVU 1.79 changed to 2.08
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.15
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $126.53

    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$139.63$82.53RVU26D
2026-07-01$139.63$82.53RVU26C
2026-04-01$139.63$82.53RVU26B
2026-01-01$139.63$82.53RVU26A
2025-10-01$126.53$87.64RVU25D
2025-07-01$126.53$87.64RVU25C
2025-04-01$126.53$87.64RVU25B
2025-01-01$126.53$87.64RVU25A

32960 billing questions

How is 32960 different from a chest tube procedure?

32960 describes deliberate introduction of air to create a therapeutic pneumothorax. A chest tube procedure addresses pleural drainage or evacuation, so select the code that matches the documented service.

Can 32960 be reported with same-day preoperative or postoperative care?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care for the procedure.

Should modifier 50 be added when both sides are treated?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 32960, and co-surgeons are not permitted. Team surgery is also not permitted.

What documentation supports reporting 32960?

Document the therapeutic intent, the deliberate introduction of air into the pleural space, and the procedure performed. A diagnosis of pneumothorax alone does not establish that this service was provided.

How does Medicare handle 32960 when another procedure is performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to the reduction.

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 32960PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,808 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ModestoGPCI2026.csv, line 16 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet