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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

38500 in Redding

Office / nonfacility

$378.28

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$242.47

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.

Lymph node surgery

About 38500: Open superficial lymph node biopsy or excision

Open biopsy or excision of a superficial lymph node is reported when tissue sampling or removal requires direct surgical exposure.

Code 38500 describes open sampling or removal of one or more superficial lymph nodes through a surgical incision. The surgeon exposes the node directly and removes all or part of it for pathologic evaluation. It is used when an accessible superficial node needs tissue diagnosis or excision, rather than needle sampling or removal from a deep nodal basin. Surgeons commonly perform this service in hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgery settings; office performance is also represented in Medicare claims.

Select the code based on the open approach and superficial location, not solely on the diagnosis or pathology result. The operative report should identify the site, approach, and whether the node was sampled or removed, and the record should support the clinical reason for obtaining tissue. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS payment is 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 38500

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 procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
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 RVU3.70 · 33%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU6.46 · 58%
  • Malpractice RVU0.90 · 8%

5K

Medicare services in 2024 · #1867 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.

38500 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Redding, from the same CMS release.

38505

Lymph node biopsy

Needle, superficial node

$179.43

38505 describes needle biopsy of a lymph node. Use 38500 when the surgeon uses an open incision to reach a superficial node.

38510

Lymph node biopsy

Open, deep cervical

$562.93

38510 is for open biopsy or excision of deep cervical nodes. Code 38500 is for superficial nodes.

38525

Axillary node biopsy

Open, deep axillary nodes

No office rate

38525 is for open biopsy or excision of deep axillary nodes; 38500 is selected for superficial nodes.

38531

Groin node surgery

Open inguinofemoral nodes

No office rate

38531 identifies open biopsy or excision of inguinofemoral nodes. Use 38500 for superficial nodes at other sites when its description fits.

The same code, a different location

How does Redding compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 38500 is $380.72—$2.44 higher than the $378.28 rate in Redding. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

38500 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Redding · This locality

    $378.28

  2. Bakersfield

    $380.72

    $2.44 higher than Redding

  3. Chico

    $378.28

    The same base rate than Redding

  4. El Centro

    $378.43

    $0.15 higher than Redding

  5. Fresno

    $378.28

    The same base rate than Redding

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $378.28

    The same base rate than Redding

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

    $403.87

    $25.59 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, 38500 ranges from $324.41 in Arkansas to $464.43 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 · 38500

    Office

    $378.28

    Facility

    $242.47

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 38500

    Office

    $378.28

    Facility

    $242.47

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 38500

    Office

    $378.28

    Facility

    $242.47

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 38500

    Office

    $431.02

    Facility

    $267.70

    $52.74 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 38500

    Office

    $400.81

    Facility

    $254.34

    $22.53 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 38500

    Office

    $378.28

    Facility

    $242.47

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 38500

    Office

    $387.93

    Facility

    $252.12

    $9.65 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 38500

    Office

    $395.09

    Facility

    $250.97

    $16.81 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 38500

    Office

    $393.60

    Facility

    $249.98

    $15.32 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 38500

    Office

    $401.64

    Facility

    $253.44

    $23.36 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 38500

    Office

    $453.36

    Facility

    $278.63

    $75.08 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 38500

    Office

    $452.34

    Facility

    $277.61

    $74.06 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 38500

    Office

    $464.43

    Facility

    $285.74

    $86.15 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 38500

    Office

    $460.25

    Facility

    $281.56

    $81.97 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 38500

    Office

    $387.56

    Facility

    $246.42

    $9.28 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 38500

    Office

    $404.45

    Facility

    $253.89

    $26.17 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 38500

    Office

    $394.74

    Facility

    $250.26

    $16.46 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 38500

    Office

    $408.37

    Facility

    $256.20

    $30.09 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 38500

    Office

    $378.28

    Facility

    $242.47

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 38500

    Office

    $429.55

    Facility

    $266.23

    $51.27 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 38500

    Office

    $378.28

    Facility

    $242.47

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 38500

    Office

    $378.28

    Facility

    $242.47

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 38500

    Office

    $417.89

    Facility

    $271.92

    $39.61 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 38500

    Office

    $424.22

    Facility

    $295.23

    $45.94 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 38500

    Office

    $410.29

    Facility

    $285.75

    $32.01 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 38500

    Office

    $429.89

    Facility

    $285.90

    $51.61 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 38500

    Office

    $431.73

    Facility

    $299.76

    $53.45 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 38500

    Office

    $329.40

    Facility

    $220.97

    $48.88 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 38500

    Office

    $324.41

    Facility

    $217.97

    $53.87 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 38500

    Office

    $358.40

    Facility

    $238.32

    $19.88 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 38500

    Office

    $378.12

    Facility

    $246.27

    $0.16 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 38500

    Office

    $394.81

    Facility

    $261.35

    $16.53 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 38500

    Office

    $364.41

    Facility

    $241.98

    $13.87 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 38500

    Office

    $396.51

    Facility

    $270.98

    $18.23 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 38500

    Office

    $375.04

    Facility

    $256.58

    $3.24 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 38500

    Office

    $379.28

    Facility

    $253.38

    $1.00 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 38500

    Office

    $351.88

    Facility

    $241.35

    $26.40 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 38500

    Office

    $386.32

    Facility

    $245.42

    $8.04 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 38500

    Office

    $332.95

    Facility

    $219.56

    $45.33 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 38500

    Office

    $336.31

    Facility

    $222.31

    $41.97 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 38500

    Office

    $382.63

    Facility

    $268.63

    $4.35 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 38500

    Office

    $367.57

    Facility

    $254.43

    $10.71 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 38500

    Office

    $399.31

    Facility

    $272.05

    $21.03 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 38500

    Office

    $338.21

    Facility

    $223.34

    $40.07 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 38500

    Office

    $333.79

    Facility

    $221.77

    $44.49 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 38500

    Office

    $342.91

    Facility

    $232.75

    $35.37 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 38500

    Office

    $360.77

    Facility

    $244.17

    $17.51 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 38500

    Office

    $343.34

    Facility

    $233.67

    $34.94 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 38500

    Office

    $413.03

    Facility

    $265.08

    $34.75 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 38500

    Office

    $376.72

    Facility

    $246.24

    $1.56 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 38500

    Office

    $394.27

    Facility

    $261.30

    $15.99 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 38500

    Office

    $370.77

    Facility

    $245.37

    $7.51 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 38500

    Office

    $340.79

    Facility

    $226.79

    $37.49 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 38500

    Office

    $356.38

    Facility

    $233.58

    $21.90 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 38500

    Office

    $382.48

    Facility

    $262.90

    $4.20 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 38500

    Office

    $354.52

    Facility

    $241.38

    $23.76 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 38500

    Office

    $354.51

    Facility

    $227.00

    $23.77 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 38500

    Office

    $355.56

    Facility

    $239.20

    $22.72 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 38500

    Office

    $359.12

    Facility

    $241.15

    $19.16 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 38500

    Office

    $338.86

    Facility

    $232.04

    $39.42 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 38500

    Office

    $331.58

    Facility

    $224.88

    $46.70 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 38500

    Office

    $369.35

    Facility

    $245.44

    $8.93 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 38500

    Office

    $344.11

    Facility

    $228.49

    $34.17 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 38500

    Office

    $351.56

    Facility

    $227.64

    $26.72 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 38500

    Office

    $334.10

    Facility

    $219.73

    $44.18 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 38500

    Office

    $374.50

    Facility

    $245.50

    $3.78 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 38500

    Office

    $413.77

    Facility

    $270.02

    $35.49 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 38500

    Office

    $397.12

    Facility

    $261.81

    $18.84 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 38500

    Office

    $357.55

    Facility

    $243.92

    $20.73 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 38500

    Office

    $364.61

    Facility

    $240.57

    $13.67 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 38500

    Office

    $443.87

    Facility

    $296.53

    $65.59 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 38500

    Office

    $401.79

    Facility

    $266.10

    $23.51 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 38500

    Office

    $429.88

    Facility

    $283.41

    $51.60 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 38500

    Office

    $349.70

    Facility

    $231.98

    $28.58 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 38500

    Office

    $350.88

    Facility

    $237.75

    $27.40 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 38500

    Office

    $339.62

    Facility

    $228.96

    $38.66 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 38500

    Office

    $387.65

    Facility

    $249.97

    $9.37 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 38500

    Office

    $359.62

    Facility

    $236.20

    $18.66 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 38500

    Office

    $386.29

    Facility

    $257.29

    $8.01 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 38500

    Office

    $350.07

    Facility

    $236.31

    $28.21 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 38500

    Office

    $371.34

    Facility

    $246.06

    $6.94 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 38500

    Office

    $375.64

    Facility

    $247.63

    $2.64 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 38500

    Office

    $348.51

    Facility

    $234.01

    $29.77 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 38500

    Office

    $349.45

    Facility

    $225.54

    $28.83 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 38500

    Office

    $335.86

    Facility

    $223.22

    $42.42 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 38500

    Office

    $378.75

    Facility

    $247.64

    $0.47 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 38500

    Office

    $347.86

    Facility

    $235.10

    $30.42 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 38500

    Office

    $361.85

    Facility

    $239.05

    $16.43 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 38500

    Office

    $365.39

    Facility

    $241.97

    $12.89 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 38500

    Office

    $363.63

    Facility

    $241.45

    $14.65 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 38500

    Office

    $363.72

    Facility

    $240.67

    $14.56 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 38500

    Office

    $380.20

    Facility

    $257.15

    $1.92 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 38500

    Office

    $355.49

    Facility

    $237.90

    $22.79 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 38500

    Office

    $353.40

    Facility

    $236.92

    $24.88 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 38500

    Office

    $356.91

    Facility

    $235.10

    $21.37 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 38500

    Office

    $371.34

    Facility

    $246.06

    $6.94 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 38500

    Office

    $352.41

    Facility

    $229.73

    $25.87 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 38500

    Office

    $375.27

    Facility

    $244.79

    $3.01 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 38500

    Office

    $419.07

    Facility

    $267.03

    $40.79 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 38500

    Office

    $339.55

    Facility

    $220.84

    $38.73 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 38500

    Office

    $354.10

    Facility

    $246.42

    $24.18 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 38500

    Office

    $361.60

    Facility

    $237.68

    $16.68 lower than Redding for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

38500 · 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.

$324.41

$431.73

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$431.731
AL$329.401
AR$324.411
AZ$358.401
CA$378.28–$464.4329
CO$378.121
CT$394.811
DC$417.891
DE$364.411
FL$375.04–$424.223
GA$351.88–$379.282
GU$386.321
HI$386.321
IA$332.951
ID$336.311
IL$367.57–$410.294
IN$338.211
KS$333.791
KY$342.911
LA$343.34–$360.772
MA$376.72–$413.032
MD$370.77–$417.893
ME$340.79–$356.382
MI$354.52–$382.482
MN$354.511
MO$338.86–$359.123
MS$331.581
MT$369.351
NC$344.111
ND$351.561
NE$334.101
NH$374.501
NJ$397.12–$413.772
NM$357.551
NV$364.611
NY$349.70–$443.875
OH$350.881
OK$339.621
OR$359.62–$387.652
PA$350.07–$386.292
PR$371.341
RI$375.641
SC$348.511
SD$349.451
TN$335.861
TX$347.86–$380.208
UT$353.401
VA$356.91–$417.892
VI$371.341
VT$352.411
WA$375.27–$419.072
WI$339.551
WV$354.101
WY$361.601

Explore 38500 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 38500 in Redding, the physician’s office rate is $378.28 and the facility-setting rate is $242.47: a difference of $135.81.

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 38500 in Redding. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$416.11

$378.28 × 110% = $416.11

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 38500 in Redding.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,741

Code
38500
Physician work
3.70
Practice expense
6.46
Malpractice
0.90

GPCI2026.csv

19

Locality
Redding
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 38500 in Redding
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.70× 1.0173.7629
Practice expense6.46× 1.0967.0802
Malpractice0.90× 0.5360.4824
Total RVUs11.3255
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Redding$378.28

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

Open 38500 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work3.71.017
Practice expense6.461.096
Malpractice0.90.536

(3.7 × 1.017 + 6.46 × 1.096 + 0.9 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $378.28

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work3.71.017
Practice expense2.751.096
Malpractice0.90.536

(3.7 × 1.017 + 2.75 × 1.096 + 0.9 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $242.47

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

38500 · Office / nonfacility

$378.28

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $45.35 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $332.93 to $378.28 (13.6%).

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

    $332.93changed to$378.28

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.79 changed to 3.70
    • Practice expense RVU 5.45 changed to 6.46
    • Malpractice RVU 0.88 changed to 0.90
    • 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: $332.93

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$378.28$242.47RVU26D
2026-07-01$378.28$242.47RVU26C
2026-04-01$378.28$242.47RVU26B
2026-01-01$378.28$242.47RVU26A
2025-10-01$332.93$248.44RVU25D
2025-07-01$332.93$248.44RVU25C
2025-04-01$332.93$248.44RVU25B
2025-01-01$332.93$248.44RVU25A

38500 billing questions

When should 38500 be used instead of 38505?

Use 38500 when the surgeon obtains the superficial node through an open incision. Code 38505 is for needle biopsy of a lymph node.

How does the location affect code selection?

Code 38500 is for superficial nodes. Deep cervical, deep axillary, internal mammary, and inguinofemoral node procedures have distinct codes, including 38510, 38525, 38530, and 38531.

What postoperative care is included?

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

How is bilateral 38500 paid?

When reported bilaterally with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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 38500PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,741 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ReddingGPCI2026.csv, line 19 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet