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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

88173 in Redding

Office / nonfacility

$178.15

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 88173: Fine needle aspirate cytology interpretation

Reports the pathologist’s diagnostic interpretation of cells obtained by fine needle aspiration, such as an aspirate from a thyroid nodule or lymph node.

A pathologist or cytopathologist examines cells collected by fine needle aspiration and issues a diagnostic interpretation and report. Common specimens come from thyroid nodules, lymph nodes, breast masses, salivary glands, and other palpable or image-guided targets. The procedure clinician obtains the aspirate; this service concerns the cytologic evaluation, not the needle placement itself or an immediate check that the sample is adequate.

Report 88173 for the diagnostic interpretation and report of the FNA material. Documentation should identify the specimen and site and support the pathologist’s review and conclusions. When the service is split, modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation and report, while TC identifies the technical work, including equipment and staff. Billing without either modifier represents the global service, combining the professional and technical components.

CMS billing rules for 88173

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 RVU1.36 · 27%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU3.58 · 72%
  • Malpractice RVU0.05 · 1%

359.8K

Medicare services in 2024 · #277 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.

88173 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Redding, from the same CMS release.

88172

FNA adequacy

First site

$57.16

Use 88172 for an immediate adequacy assessment during the procedure. Use 88173 for the diagnostic interpretation and report of the aspirate.

88177

FNA adequacy

Each additional evaluation

$30.58

88177 describes an additional immediate adequacy evaluation episode at the same site; it is not the final diagnostic interpretation represented by 88173.

88160

Cytology smear

Other source, screening and interpretation

$87.47

88160 is for cytologic evaluation of smears from sources other than an FNA. Use 88173 when the material being interpreted was obtained by fine needle aspiration.

The same code, a different location

How does Redding compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 88173 is $178.36—$0.21 higher than the $178.15 rate in Redding. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

88173 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Redding · This locality

    $178.15

  2. Bakersfield

    $178.36

    $0.21 higher than Redding

  3. Chico

    $178.15

    The same base rate than Redding

  4. El Centro

    $178.16

    $0.01 higher than Redding

  5. Fresno

    $178.15

    The same base rate than Redding

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $178.15

    The same base rate than Redding

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

    $189.85

    $11.70 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, 88173 ranges from $149.00 in Arkansas to $223.74 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 · 88173

    Office

    $178.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 88173

    Office

    $178.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 88173

    Office

    $178.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 88173

    Office

    $206.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.59 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 88173

    Office

    $189.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.93 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 88173

    Office

    $178.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 88173

    Office

    $178.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.57 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 88173

    Office

    $187.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.87 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 88173

    Office

    $186.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.17 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 88173

    Office

    $190.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.56 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 88173

    Office

    $219.11

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $40.96 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 88173

    Office

    $219.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $40.90 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 88173

    Office

    $223.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $45.59 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 88173

    Office

    $223.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $45.36 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 88173

    Office

    $183.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.14 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 88173

    Office

    $192.56

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.41 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 88173

    Office

    $187.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.87 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 88173

    Office

    $194.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.37 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 88173

    Office

    $178.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 88173

    Office

    $206.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.50 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 88173

    Office

    $178.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 88173

    Office

    $178.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 88173

    Office

    $190.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.45 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 88173

    Office

    $174.13

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.02 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 88173

    Office

    $169.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.40 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 88173

    Office

    $189.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.78 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 88173

    Office

    $196.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.26 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 88173

    Office

    $151.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.15 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 88173

    Office

    $149.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.15 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 88173

    Office

    $162.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.43 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 88173

    Office

    $174.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.65 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 88173

    Office

    $177.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.01 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 88173

    Office

    $165.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.86 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 88173

    Office

    $169.57

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.58 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 88173

    Office

    $162.25

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.90 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 88173

    Office

    $169.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.09 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 88173

    Office

    $154.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.07 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 88173

    Office

    $182.35

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.20 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 88173

    Office

    $155.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.65 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 88173

    Office

    $156.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.93 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 88173

    Office

    $158.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.35 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 88173

    Office

    $157.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.94 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 88173

    Office

    $171.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.64 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 88173

    Office

    $157.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.07 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 88173

    Office

    $154.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.79 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 88173

    Office

    $153.26

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.89 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 88173

    Office

    $159.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.31 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 88173

    Office

    $152.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.30 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 88173

    Office

    $191.55

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.40 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 88173

    Office

    $173.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.75 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 88173

    Office

    $176.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.63 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 88173

    Office

    $168.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.73 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 88173

    Office

    $156.47

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.68 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 88173

    Office

    $164.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.17 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 88173

    Office

    $163.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.52 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 88173

    Office

    $156.48

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.67 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 88173

    Office

    $168.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.19 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 88173

    Office

    $159.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.81 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 88173

    Office

    $160.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.22 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 88173

    Office

    $150.13

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.02 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 88173

    Office

    $149.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.54 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 88173

    Office

    $166.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.48 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 88173

    Office

    $158.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.09 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 88173

    Office

    $165.68

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.47 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 88173

    Office

    $156.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.73 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 88173

    Office

    $171.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.79 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 88173

    Office

    $188.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.63 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 88173

    Office

    $179.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.50 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 88173

    Office

    $157.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.07 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 88173

    Office

    $166.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.64 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 88173

    Office

    $193.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.46 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 88173

    Office

    $180.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.27 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 88173

    Office

    $192.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.93 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 88173

    Office

    $160.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.95 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 88173

    Office

    $156.28

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.87 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 88173

    Office

    $153.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.65 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 88173

    Office

    $180.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.09 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 88173

    Office

    $165.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.45 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 88173

    Office

    $172.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.44 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 88173

    Office

    $156.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.38 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 88173

    Office

    $167.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.19 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 88173

    Office

    $171.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.85 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 88173

    Office

    $157.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.82 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 88173

    Office

    $165.56

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.59 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 88173

    Office

    $155.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.13 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 88173

    Office

    $173.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.64 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 88173

    Office

    $155.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.36 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 88173

    Office

    $165.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.56 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 88173

    Office

    $166.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.79 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 88173

    Office

    $165.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.96 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 88173

    Office

    $165.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.24 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 88173

    Office

    $166.82

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.33 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 88173

    Office

    $160.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.74 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 88173

    Office

    $159.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.82 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 88173

    Office

    $164.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.00 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 88173

    Office

    $167.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.19 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 88173

    Office

    $164.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.50 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 88173

    Office

    $173.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.95 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 88173

    Office

    $195.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.63 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 88173

    Office

    $160.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.66 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 88173

    Office

    $151.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.42 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 88173

    Office

    $166.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.91 lower than Redding for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

88173 · 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.

$149.00

$200.95

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$196.411
AL$151.001
AR$149.001
AZ$162.721
CA$178.15–$223.7429
CO$174.501
CT$177.141
DC$190.601
DE$165.291
FL$162.25–$174.133
GA$154.08–$169.062
GU$182.351
HI$182.351
IA$155.501
ID$156.221
IL$157.21–$171.514
IN$157.081
KS$154.361
KY$153.261
LA$152.85–$159.842
MA$173.40–$191.552
MD$168.42–$190.603
ME$156.47–$164.982
MI$156.48–$163.632
MN$168.961
MO$150.13–$160.933
MS$149.611
MT$166.671
NC$158.061
ND$165.681
NE$156.421
NH$171.361
NJ$179.65–$188.782
NM$157.081
NV$166.511
NY$160.20–$193.615
OH$156.281
OK$153.501
OR$165.70–$180.242
PA$156.77–$172.712
PR$167.961
RI$171.301
SC$157.331
SD$165.561
TN$155.021
TX$155.79–$173.518
UT$159.331
VA$164.15–$190.602
VI$167.961
VT$164.651
WA$173.20–$195.782
WI$160.491
WV$151.731
WY$166.241

Explore 88173 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 →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 88173 in Redding. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$195.97

$178.15 × 110% = $195.97

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 88173 in Redding.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

11,151

Code
88173
Physician work
1.36
Practice expense
3.58
Malpractice
0.05

GPCI2026.csv

19

Locality
Redding
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 88173 in Redding
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.36× 1.0171.3831
Practice expense3.58× 1.0963.9237
Malpractice0.05× 0.5360.0268
Total RVUs5.3336
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Redding$178.15

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

Open 88173 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.361.017
Practice expense3.581.096
Malpractice0.050.536

(1.36 × 1.017 + 3.58 × 1.096 + 0.05 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $178.15

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

88173 · Office / nonfacility

$178.15

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.01 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $177.14 to $178.15 (0.6%).

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

    $177.14changed to$178.15

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.39 changed to 1.36
    • Practice expense RVU 3.69 changed to 3.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05
    • 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: $177.14

    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$178.15Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$178.15Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$178.15Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$178.15Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$177.14Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$177.14Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$177.14Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$177.14Not available in this settingRVU25A

88173 billing questions

How is 88173 different from 88172?

88173 is the diagnostic interpretation and report of the aspirate. 88172 describes an immediate assessment during the procedure to determine whether the specimen is adequate.

Can 88172 and 88173 be reported for the same FNA?

They may both be reported when an immediate adequacy assessment is performed during the procedure and the aspirate also receives a diagnostic interpretation and report.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and report, or TC for the technical component. Without either modifier, 88173 represents the global service.

Does 88173 describe the FNA procedure itself?

No. It describes cytologic evaluation of the aspirated material; it does not describe obtaining the sample with a needle.

What documentation supports reporting 88173?

The record should identify the FNA specimen and site and include the pathologist’s diagnostic interpretation and report.

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 88173PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,151 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ReddingGPCI2026.csv, line 19 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet