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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

32550 in Vallejo

Office / nonfacility

$985.60

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$191.87

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 procedures

About 32550: Tunneled pleural catheter placement

Report tunneled pleural catheter placement when a cuffed, indwelling catheter is inserted to manage recurrent fluid in the pleural space.

This service places a cuffed catheter through a subcutaneous tunnel into the pleural space, leaving it in place for repeated drainage. Pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, and interventional radiologists commonly perform the procedure for recurrent pleural effusions, including malignant effusions, in hospital outpatient or office settings. The tunneled route and cuff distinguish this device from a temporary pleural drain.

Select the code when the documentation supports placement of an indwelling tunneled catheter with a cuff, rather than a non-tunneled catheter or a one-time pleural aspiration. Record the indication, catheter type and placement, and the pleural space treated. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 32550

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
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 RVU3.82 · 16%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU19.13 · 82%
  • Malpractice RVU0.51 · 2%

13.2K

Medicare services in 2024 · #1331 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.

32550 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Vallejo, from the same CMS release.

32556

Pleural catheter

Without imaging guidance

$1,077.09

Choose 32550 for a cuffed catheter placed through a subcutaneous tunnel for ongoing drainage. Code 32556 describes non-tunneled catheter insertion without imaging guidance.

32557

Pleural catheter

With imaging guidance

$818.67

Choose 32550 for tunneled, cuffed indwelling access. Code 32557 describes non-tunneled pleural catheter insertion with imaging guidance.

32551

Chest tube

Open thoracostomy

No office rate

Code 32551 describes insertion of a chest tube. Use 32550 when the procedure places an indwelling tunneled pleural catheter with a cuff.

32552

Pleural catheter removal

Tunneled catheter with cuff

$220.00

Code 32550 is for catheter placement; 32552 is for removal of an indwelling tunneled pleural catheter.

The same code, a different location

How does Vallejo compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 32550 is $840.69—$144.91 lower than the $985.60 rate in Vallejo. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

32550 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Vallejo · This locality

    $985.60

  2. Bakersfield

    $840.69

    $144.91 lower than Vallejo

  3. Chico

    $839.19

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo

  4. El Centro

    $839.28

    $146.32 lower than Vallejo

  5. Fresno

    $839.19

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $839.19

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo

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

    $900.02

    $85.58 lower than Vallejo

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, 32550 ranges from $685.23 in Arkansas to $1072.14 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 · 32550

    Office

    $839.19

    Facility

    $179.16

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 32550

    Office

    $839.19

    Facility

    $179.16

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 32550

    Office

    $839.19

    Facility

    $179.16

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 32550

    Office

    $986.43

    Facility

    $192.71

    $0.83 higher than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 32550

    Office

    $897.03

    Facility

    $185.20

    $88.57 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 32550

    Office

    $839.19

    Facility

    $179.16

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 32550

    Office

    $839.19

    Facility

    $179.16

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 32550

    Office

    $844.72

    Facility

    $184.69

    $140.88 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 32550

    Office

    $884.42

    Facility

    $184.04

    $101.18 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 32550

    Office

    $881.23

    Facility

    $183.26

    $104.37 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 32550

    Office

    $904.85

    Facility

    $184.59

    $80.75 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 32550

    Office

    $1048.46

    Facility

    $199.34

    $62.86 higher than Vallejo for the office setting.

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

    California · 32550

    Office

    $1047.88

    Facility

    $198.76

    $62.28 higher than Vallejo for the office setting.

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

    California · 32550

    Office

    $1072.14

    Facility

    $203.74

    $86.54 higher than Vallejo for the office setting.

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

    California · 32550

    Office

    $1069.77

    Facility

    $201.37

    $84.17 higher than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 32550

    Office

    $866.67

    Facility

    $180.74

    $118.93 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 32550

    Office

    $915.74

    Facility

    $184.04

    $69.86 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 32550

    Office

    $885.32

    Facility

    $183.13

    $100.28 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 32550

    Office

    $925.19

    Facility

    $185.67

    $60.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 32550

    Office

    $839.19

    Facility

    $179.16

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 32550

    Office

    $839.19

    Facility

    $179.16

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 32550

    Office

    $839.19

    Facility

    $179.16

    $146.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 32550

    Office

    $906.13

    Facility

    $196.72

    $79.47 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 32550

    Office

    $835.83

    Facility

    $208.92

    $149.77 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 32550

    Office

    $809.73

    Facility

    $204.50

    $175.87 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 32550

    Office

    $905.24

    Facility

    $205.47

    $80.36 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 32550

    Office

    $881.26

    Facility

    $239.90

    $104.34 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 32550

    Office

    $696.32

    Facility

    $169.38

    $289.28 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 32550

    Office

    $685.23

    Facility

    $167.92

    $300.37 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 32550

    Office

    $761.32

    Facility

    $177.77

    $224.28 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 32550

    Office

    $822.28

    Facility

    $181.52

    $163.32 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 32550

    Office

    $838.91

    Facility

    $190.33

    $146.69 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 32550

    Office

    $774.84

    Facility

    $179.84

    $210.76 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 32550

    Office

    $805.66

    Facility

    $195.61

    $179.94 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 32550

    Office

    $764.04

    Facility

    $188.32

    $221.56 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 32550

    Office

    $797.62

    Facility

    $185.76

    $187.98 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 32550

    Office

    $717.85

    Facility

    $180.67

    $267.75 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 32550

    Office

    $863.95

    Facility

    $179.23

    $121.65 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 32550

    Office

    $719.00

    Facility

    $167.97

    $266.60 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 32550

    Office

    $723.49

    Facility

    $169.45

    $262.11 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 32550

    Office

    $749.74

    Facility

    $195.70

    $235.86 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 32550

    Office

    $737.59

    Facility

    $187.76

    $248.01 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 32550

    Office

    $814.88

    Facility

    $196.40

    $170.72 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 32550

    Office

    $728.19

    Facility

    $169.93

    $257.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 32550

    Office

    $713.80

    Facility

    $169.39

    $271.80 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 32550

    Office

    $711.21

    Facility

    $175.84

    $274.39 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 32550

    Office

    $748.20

    Facility

    $181.52

    $237.40 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 32550

    Office

    $709.39

    Facility

    $176.43

    $276.21 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 32550

    Office

    $910.90

    Facility

    $191.85

    $74.70 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 32550

    Office

    $816.03

    Facility

    $181.90

    $169.57 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 32550

    Office

    $836.31

    Facility

    $190.13

    $149.29 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 32550

    Office

    $791.13

    Facility

    $181.69

    $194.47 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 32550

    Office

    $726.03

    Facility

    $171.99

    $259.57 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 32550

    Office

    $771.55

    Facility

    $174.75

    $214.05 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 32550

    Office

    $772.91

    Facility

    $191.77

    $212.69 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 32550

    Office

    $730.19

    Facility

    $180.37

    $255.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 32550

    Office

    $790.12

    Facility

    $170.44

    $195.48 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 32550

    Office

    $744.22

    Facility

    $178.73

    $241.38 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 32550

    Office

    $752.95

    Facility

    $179.64

    $232.65 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 32550

    Office

    $694.97

    Facility

    $175.85

    $290.63 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 32550

    Office

    $690.32

    Facility

    $171.81

    $295.28 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 32550

    Office

    $783.55

    Facility

    $181.33

    $202.05 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 32550

    Office

    $734.63

    Facility

    $172.76

    $250.97 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 32550

    Office

    $773.47

    Facility

    $171.25

    $212.13 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 32550

    Office

    $723.79

    Facility

    $167.94

    $261.81 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 32550

    Office

    $807.65

    Facility

    $180.74

    $177.95 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 32550

    Office

    $895.02

    Facility

    $196.44

    $90.58 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 32550

    Office

    $849.13

    Facility

    $191.50

    $136.47 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 32550

    Office

    $733.98

    Facility

    $181.74

    $251.62 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 32550

    Office

    $781.38

    Facility

    $178.56

    $204.22 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 32550

    Office

    $927.11

    Facility

    $211.08

    $58.49 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 32550

    Office

    $853.61

    Facility

    $194.18

    $131.99 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 32550

    Office

    $915.57

    Facility

    $203.75

    $70.03 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 32550

    Office

    $746.58

    Facility

    $174.47

    $239.02 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 32550

    Office

    $728.13

    Facility

    $178.31

    $257.47 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 32550

    Office

    $711.42

    Facility

    $173.64

    $274.18 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 32550

    Office

    $852.19

    Facility

    $183.13

    $133.41 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 32550

    Office

    $775.97

    Facility

    $176.16

    $209.63 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 32550

    Office

    $815.37

    Facility

    $188.46

    $170.23 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 32550

    Office

    $730.25

    Facility

    $177.42

    $255.35 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 32550

    Office

    $790.36

    Facility

    $181.52

    $195.24 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 32550

    Office

    $805.26

    Facility

    $183.16

    $180.34 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 32550

    Office

    $732.47

    Facility

    $176.02

    $253.13 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 32550

    Office

    $772.27

    Facility

    $170.06

    $213.33 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 32550

    Office

    $717.55

    Facility

    $170.14

    $268.05 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 32550

    Office

    $818.96

    Facility

    $181.81

    $166.64 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 32550

    Office

    $724.87

    Facility

    $176.85

    $260.73 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 32550

    Office

    $775.11

    Facility

    $178.31

    $210.49 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 32550

    Office

    $779.76

    Facility

    $179.95

    $205.84 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 32550

    Office

    $773.59

    Facility

    $179.80

    $212.01 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 32550

    Office

    $777.20

    Facility

    $179.20

    $208.40 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 32550

    Office

    $786.54

    Facility

    $188.54

    $199.06 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 32550

    Office

    $749.35

    Facility

    $177.84

    $236.25 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 32550

    Office

    $743.51

    Facility

    $177.42

    $242.09 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 32550

    Office

    $767.71

    Facility

    $175.73

    $217.89 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 32550

    Office

    $790.36

    Facility

    $181.52

    $195.24 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 32550

    Office

    $768.78

    Facility

    $172.58

    $216.82 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 32550

    Office

    $815.04

    Facility

    $180.90

    $170.56 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 32550

    Office

    $931.89

    Facility

    $192.97

    $53.71 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 32550

    Office

    $744.96

    Facility

    $168.04

    $240.64 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 32550

    Office

    $707.22

    Facility

    $183.90

    $278.38 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 32550

    Office

    $779.16

    Facility

    $176.94

    $206.44 lower than Vallejo for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

32550 · 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.

$685.23

$955.67

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$881.261
AL$696.321
AR$685.231
AZ$761.321
CA$839.19–$1,072.1429
CO$822.281
CT$838.911
DC$906.131
DE$774.841
FL$764.04–$835.833
GA$717.85–$797.622
GU$863.951
HI$863.951
IA$719.001
ID$723.491
IL$737.59–$814.884
IN$728.191
KS$713.801
KY$711.211
LA$709.39–$748.202
MA$816.03–$910.902
MD$791.13–$906.133
ME$726.03–$771.552
MI$730.19–$772.912
MN$790.121
MO$694.97–$752.953
MS$690.321
MT$783.551
NC$734.631
ND$773.471
NE$723.791
NH$807.651
NJ$849.13–$895.022
NM$733.981
NV$781.381
NY$746.58–$927.115
OH$728.131
OK$711.421
OR$775.97–$852.192
PA$730.25–$815.372
PR$790.361
RI$805.261
SC$732.471
SD$772.271
TN$717.551
TX$724.87–$818.968
UT$743.511
VA$767.71–$906.132
VI$790.361
VT$768.781
WA$815.04–$931.892
WI$744.961
WV$707.221
WY$779.161

Explore 32550 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Vallejo is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 11 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 32550 in Vallejo, the physician’s office rate is $985.60 and the facility-setting rate is $191.87: a difference of $793.73.

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 32550 in Vallejo. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$1084.16

$985.60 × 110% = $1084.16

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 32550 in Vallejo.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

3,729

Code
32550
Physician work
3.82
Practice expense
19.13
Malpractice
0.51

GPCI2026.csv

33

Locality
Vallejo
Physician work
1.063
Practice expense
1.318
Malpractice
0.459
Office / nonfacility calculation for 32550 in Vallejo
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.82× 1.0634.0607
Practice expense19.13× 1.31825.2133
Malpractice0.51× 0.4590.2341
Total RVUs29.5081
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Vallejo$985.60

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

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Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work3.821.063
Practice expense19.131.318
Malpractice0.510.459

(3.82 × 1.063 + 19.13 × 1.318 + 0.51 × 0.459) × $33.4009 = $985.60

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work3.821.063
Practice expense1.11.318
Malpractice0.510.459

(3.82 × 1.063 + 1.1 × 1.318 + 0.51 × 0.459) × $33.4009 = $191.87

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

32550 · Office / nonfacility

$985.60

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $90.13 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $895.47 to $985.60 (10.1%).

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

    $895.47changed to$985.60

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.92 changed to 3.82
    • Practice expense RVU 17.78 changed to 19.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 0.51
    • Work GPCI 1.058 changed to 1.063
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.310 changed to 1.318
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.470 changed to 0.459

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $895.47

    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$985.60$191.87RVU26D
2026-07-01$985.60$191.87RVU26C
2026-04-01$985.60$191.87RVU26B
2026-01-01$985.60$191.87RVU26A
2025-10-01$895.47$209.01RVU25D
2025-07-01$895.47$209.01RVU25C
2025-04-01$895.47$209.01RVU25B
2025-01-01$895.47$209.01RVU25A

32550 billing questions

How does this differ from codes 32556 and 32557?

Code 32550 describes placement of an indwelling tunneled catheter with a cuff. Codes 32556 and 32557 describe pleural catheter insertion without that tunneled-cuff distinction, with imaging status distinguishing those two codes.

When would a pleural aspiration code be more appropriate?

Use 32554 or 32555 for aspiration of pleural fluid rather than placement of a catheter intended to remain for repeated drainage. The aspiration codes differ according to imaging guidance.

Is same-day preoperative or postoperative care separately included?

CMS assigns 32550 a 0-day global period. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure.

Can an assistant, co-surgeon, or surgical team be paid?

CMS does not pay for an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What documentation supports reporting 32550?

Document the recurrent pleural-fluid indication and that a cuffed catheter was placed through a tunnel and left indwelling in the pleural space. A temporary drain or one-time aspiration supports a different service.

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 32550PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,729 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for VallejoGPCI2026.csv, line 33 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet