FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu
On this page

CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

38300 in Redding

Office / nonfacility

$397.28

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$219.37

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.

Lymphatic surgery

About 38300: Open drainage of lymph node lesion

Report open drainage when a physician surgically drains a lesion involving a lymph node, rather than sampling or removing the node.

Code 38300 represents an open procedure to drain a lesion involving a lymph node. A physician or surgeon accesses the affected node and drains the lesion; the operative report should make clear that the target was a lymph node lesion and that drainage was performed. This is distinct from taking tissue for diagnosis or excising a node. The service is generally performed in a surgical setting when the lesion requires operative access.

Select the code from the documented target and procedure, not from the shortened CMS label alone. Record the node site, open approach, and drainage performed. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 38300

Global period
Minor procedure with a 10-day global period: related postoperative visits for 10 days are 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 RVU2.30 · 20%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU8.42 · 74%
  • Malpractice RVU0.61 · 5%

19

Medicare services in 2024 · #5946 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.

38300 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Redding, from the same CMS release.

38305

Lymph node drainage

Deep abscess

No office rate

The CMS short descriptor is the same for 38300 and 38305. Use the complete CPT descriptor and operative documentation to determine which drainage service was performed.

38500

Lymph node biopsy

Open, superficial node

$378.28

38300 is for draining a lymph node lesion; 38500 describes open biopsy or excision of a superficial lymph node, not drainage.

38505

Lymph node biopsy

Needle, superficial node

$179.43

38505 is needle sampling of a lymph node. Use 38300 when the documented service is open drainage of a node lesion instead of tissue sampling.

The same code, a different location

How does Redding compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 38300 is $398.92—$1.64 higher than the $397.28 rate in Redding. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

38300 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Redding · This locality

    $397.28

  2. Bakersfield

    $398.92

    $1.64 higher than Redding

  3. Chico

    $397.28

    The same base rate than Redding

  4. El Centro

    $397.38

    $0.10 higher than Redding

  5. Fresno

    $397.28

    The same base rate than Redding

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $397.28

    The same base rate than Redding

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

    $426.20

    $28.92 higher than Redding

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, 38300 ranges from $328.90 in Arkansas to $501.73 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 · 38300

    Office

    $397.28

    Facility

    $219.37

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 38300

    Office

    $397.28

    Facility

    $219.37

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 38300

    Office

    $397.28

    Facility

    $219.37

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 38300

    Office

    $462.68

    Facility

    $248.73

    $65.40 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 38300

    Office

    $424.09

    Facility

    $232.21

    $26.81 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 38300

    Office

    $397.28

    Facility

    $219.37

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 38300

    Office

    $403.82

    Facility

    $225.91

    $6.54 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 38300

    Office

    $417.59

    Facility

    $228.80

    $20.31 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 38300

    Office

    $416.08

    Facility

    $227.94

    $18.80 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 38300

    Office

    $426.53

    Facility

    $232.38

    $29.25 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 38300

    Office

    $490.01

    Facility

    $261.13

    $92.73 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 38300

    Office

    $489.32

    Facility

    $260.44

    $92.04 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 38300

    Office

    $501.73

    Facility

    $267.66

    $104.45 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 38300

    Office

    $498.90

    Facility

    $264.83

    $101.62 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 38300

    Office

    $409.38

    Facility

    $224.48

    $12.10 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 38300

    Office

    $431.06

    Facility

    $233.83

    $33.78 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 38300

    Office

    $417.81

    Facility

    $228.54

    $20.53 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 38300

    Office

    $435.40

    Facility

    $236.07

    $38.12 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 38300

    Office

    $397.28

    Facility

    $219.37

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 38300

    Office

    $461.68

    Facility

    $247.73

    $64.40 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 38300

    Office

    $397.28

    Facility

    $219.37

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 38300

    Office

    $397.28

    Facility

    $219.37

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 38300

    Office

    $434.94

    Facility

    $243.72

    $37.66 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 38300

    Office

    $421.12

    Facility

    $252.13

    $23.84 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 38300

    Office

    $406.76

    Facility

    $243.62

    $9.48 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 38300

    Office

    $440.85

    Facility

    $252.22

    $43.57 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 38300

    Office

    $425.98

    Facility

    $253.10

    $28.70 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 38300

    Office

    $334.44

    Facility

    $192.40

    $62.84 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 38300

    Office

    $328.90

    Facility

    $189.46

    $68.38 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 38300

    Office

    $366.78

    Facility

    $209.48

    $30.50 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 38300

    Office

    $392.89

    Facility

    $220.17

    $4.39 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 38300

    Office

    $405.90

    Facility

    $231.07

    $8.62 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 38300

    Office

    $373.38

    Facility

    $213.00

    $23.90 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 38300

    Office

    $398.55

    Facility

    $234.11

    $1.27 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 38300

    Office

    $376.31

    Facility

    $221.12

    $20.97 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 38300

    Office

    $387.26

    Facility

    $222.33

    $10.02 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 38300

    Office

    $351.97

    Facility

    $207.17

    $45.31 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 38300

    Office

    $408.38

    Facility

    $223.82

    $11.10 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 38300

    Office

    $342.24

    Facility

    $193.71

    $55.04 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 38300

    Office

    $345.20

    Facility

    $195.85

    $52.08 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 38300

    Office

    $376.59

    Facility

    $227.25

    $20.69 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 38300

    Office

    $365.44

    Facility

    $217.23

    $31.84 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 38300

    Office

    $402.29

    Facility

    $235.58

    $5.01 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 38300

    Office

    $347.43

    Facility

    $196.95

    $49.85 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 38300

    Office

    $341.33

    Facility

    $194.58

    $55.95 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 38300

    Office

    $345.48

    Facility

    $201.17

    $51.80 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 38300

    Office

    $364.61

    Facility

    $211.86

    $32.67 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 38300

    Office

    $345.23

    Facility

    $201.57

    $52.05 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 38300

    Office

    $433.90

    Facility

    $240.08

    $36.62 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 38300

    Office

    $390.43

    Facility

    $219.50

    $6.85 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 38300

    Office

    $405.02

    Facility

    $230.84

    $7.74 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 38300

    Office

    $380.90

    Facility

    $216.63

    $16.38 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 38300

    Office

    $348.23

    Facility

    $198.89

    $49.05 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 38300

    Office

    $368.38

    Facility

    $207.52

    $28.90 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 38300

    Office

    $382.57

    Facility

    $225.92

    $14.71 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 38300

    Office

    $356.59

    Facility

    $208.39

    $40.69 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 38300

    Office

    $372.24

    Facility

    $205.21

    $25.04 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 38300

    Office

    $360.81

    Facility

    $208.38

    $36.47 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 38300

    Office

    $364.97

    Facility

    $210.44

    $32.31 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 38300

    Office

    $339.09

    Facility

    $199.16

    $58.19 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 38300

    Office

    $334.02

    Facility

    $194.26

    $63.26 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 38300

    Office

    $378.39

    Facility

    $216.06

    $18.89 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 38300

    Office

    $352.23

    Facility

    $200.78

    $45.05 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 38300

    Office

    $366.33

    Facility

    $204.00

    $30.95 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 38300

    Office

    $344.10

    Facility

    $194.27

    $53.18 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 38300

    Office

    $387.42

    Facility

    $218.43

    $9.86 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 38300

    Office

    $429.66

    Facility

    $241.35

    $32.38 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 38300

    Office

    $409.36

    Facility

    $232.09

    $12.08 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 38300

    Office

    $359.18

    Facility

    $210.33

    $38.10 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 38300

    Office

    $375.31

    Facility

    $212.82

    $21.97 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 38300

    Office

    $453.96

    Facility

    $260.95

    $56.68 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 38300

    Office

    $412.89

    Facility

    $235.14

    $15.61 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 38300

    Office

    $443.54

    Facility

    $251.67

    $46.26 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 38300

    Office

    $358.32

    Facility

    $204.11

    $38.96 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 38300

    Office

    $354.13

    Facility

    $205.92

    $43.15 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 38300

    Office

    $343.80

    Facility

    $198.84

    $53.48 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 38300

    Office

    $405.66

    Facility

    $225.32

    $8.38 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 38300

    Office

    $371.26

    Facility

    $209.58

    $26.02 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 38300

    Office

    $395.28

    Facility

    $226.29

    $2.00 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 38300

    Office

    $354.25

    Facility

    $205.23

    $43.03 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 38300

    Office

    $381.22

    Facility

    $217.11

    $16.06 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 38300

    Office

    $386.97

    Facility

    $219.29

    $10.31 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 38300

    Office

    $354.00

    Facility

    $204.01

    $43.28 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 38300

    Office

    $364.90

    Facility

    $202.58

    $32.38 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 38300

    Office

    $343.41

    Facility

    $195.85

    $53.87 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 38300

    Office

    $392.57

    Facility

    $220.83

    $4.71 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 38300

    Office

    $351.67

    Facility

    $203.96

    $45.61 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 38300

    Office

    $372.03

    Facility

    $211.17

    $25.25 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 38300

    Office

    $375.11

    Facility

    $213.43

    $22.17 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 38300

    Office

    $372.56

    Facility

    $212.50

    $24.72 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 38300

    Office

    $373.57

    Facility

    $212.38

    $23.71 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 38300

    Office

    $384.74

    Facility

    $223.55

    $12.54 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 38300

    Office

    $362.11

    Facility

    $208.06

    $35.17 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 38300

    Office

    $359.48

    Facility

    $206.89

    $37.80 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 38300

    Office

    $367.66

    Facility

    $208.09

    $29.62 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 38300

    Office

    $381.22

    Facility

    $217.11

    $16.06 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 38300

    Office

    $365.55

    Facility

    $204.85

    $31.73 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 38300

    Office

    $389.47

    Facility

    $218.54

    $7.81 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 38300

    Office

    $442.39

    Facility

    $243.21

    $45.11 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 38300

    Office

    $352.52

    Facility

    $197.01

    $44.76 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 38300

    Office

    $350.37

    Facility

    $209.31

    $46.91 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 38300

    Office

    $373.13

    Facility

    $210.81

    $24.15 lower than Redding for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

38300 · 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.

$328.90

$449.51

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$425.981
AL$334.441
AR$328.901
AZ$366.781
CA$397.28–$501.7329
CO$392.891
CT$405.901
DC$434.941
DE$373.381
FL$376.31–$421.123
GA$351.97–$387.262
GU$408.381
HI$408.381
IA$342.241
ID$345.201
IL$365.44–$406.764
IN$347.431
KS$341.331
KY$345.481
LA$345.23–$364.612
MA$390.43–$433.902
MD$380.90–$434.943
ME$348.23–$368.382
MI$356.59–$382.572
MN$372.241
MO$339.09–$364.973
MS$334.021
MT$378.391
NC$352.231
ND$366.331
NE$344.101
NH$387.421
NJ$409.36–$429.662
NM$359.181
NV$375.311
NY$358.32–$453.965
OH$354.131
OK$343.801
OR$371.26–$405.662
PA$354.25–$395.282
PR$381.221
RI$386.971
SC$354.001
SD$364.901
TN$343.411
TX$351.67–$392.578
UT$359.481
VA$367.66–$434.942
VI$381.221
VT$365.551
WA$389.47–$442.392
WI$352.521
WV$350.371
WY$373.131

Explore 38300 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Redding is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 32 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 38300 in Redding, the physician’s office rate is $397.28 and the facility-setting rate is $219.37: a difference of $177.91.

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 38300 in Redding. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$437.01

$397.28 × 110% = $437.01

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 38300 in Redding.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,735

Code
38300
Physician work
2.30
Practice expense
8.42
Malpractice
0.61

GPCI2026.csv

19

Locality
Redding
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 38300 in Redding
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.30× 1.0172.3391
Practice expense8.42× 1.0969.2283
Malpractice0.61× 0.5360.3270
Total RVUs11.8944
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Redding$397.28

Open 38300 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work2.31.017
Practice expense8.421.096
Malpractice0.610.536

(2.3 × 1.017 + 8.42 × 1.096 + 0.61 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $397.28

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work2.31.017
Practice expense3.561.096
Malpractice0.610.536

(2.3 × 1.017 + 3.56 × 1.096 + 0.61 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $219.37

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

38300 · Office / nonfacility

$397.28

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $55.51 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $341.77 to $397.28 (16.2%).

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

    $341.77changed to$397.28

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.36 changed to 2.30
    • Practice expense RVU 7.17 changed to 8.42
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.61
    • 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: $341.77

    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$397.28$219.37RVU26D
2026-07-01$397.28$219.37RVU26C
2026-04-01$397.28$219.37RVU26B
2026-01-01$397.28$219.37RVU26A
2025-10-01$341.77$210.60RVU25D
2025-07-01$341.77$210.60RVU25C
2025-04-01$341.77$210.60RVU25B
2025-01-01$341.77$210.60RVU25A

38300 billing questions

How is 38300 different from 38305?

The CMS short descriptors supplied for both codes are identical. Check the complete CPT descriptors and the documented procedure to select between them; the shortened label alone does not establish the distinction.

Can 38300 be reported for a lymph node biopsy?

No. This code describes drainage of a lymph node lesion, not tissue sampling. For a node sampled or removed for diagnosis, consider the applicable lymph node biopsy or excision code.

Are postoperative visits separately payable?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral drainage?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inapplicable and modifier 50 as inappropriate for this code.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 38300. Co-surgeons and team surgery are also not permitted under the CMS rules provided.

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 38300PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,735 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ReddingGPCI2026.csv, line 19 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet