Billing code 38572: Laparoscopic lymphadenectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Guam
Report 38572 for laparoscopic bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy with para-aortic lymph node sampling, commonly performed for gynecologic cancer staging.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 38572 in Guam.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 38572 covers
A surgeon uses a laparoscope to remove pelvic lymph nodes on both sides and sample para-aortic nodes. The procedure is commonly performed by a gynecologic oncologist during laparoscopic staging or treatment of gynecologic malignancy, such as endometrial or cervical cancer. The operative report should make clear the pelvic dissection and para-aortic sampling performed; a limited node biopsy alone is a different service.
Report this code when the documented laparoscopic work includes both bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic sampling. The code is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery and co-surgeons; team surgery is not permitted.
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.
38572 in Hawaii, Guam
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii, Guam | Unavailable | $814.77 |
How the 38572 rate is calculated
Each of 38572’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 38572
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work15.21
15.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.59
6.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.92
2.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
24.7200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$825.67
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 38572
38572 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 38572
Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 2 | Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 2 | Permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 38572
Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
38572 without 51 · national facility
$825.67
Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy
38572-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$412.84
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
38572 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 38571Pelvic lymphadenectomy
- Choose 38572 when para-aortic node sampling accompanies bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy. 38571 describes the pelvic dissection without that added para-aortic sampling.
- 38570Laparoscopic node biopsy
- 38570 describes laparoscopic retroperitoneal node sampling or biopsy. It does not represent the combined bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic sampling of 38572.
- 38562Pelvic lymphadenectomy
- 38562 is an open pelvic lymph node removal service. 38572 is for the specified laparoscopic pelvic dissection with para-aortic sampling.
38572 billing questions
How does 38572 differ from 38571?
38572 includes para-aortic lymph node sampling in addition to bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy. Use 38571 when the documented procedure includes the bilateral pelvic dissection but not para-aortic sampling.
Can modifier 50 be added for the bilateral pelvic work?
No. CMS prices 38572 as bilateral, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.
Are related postoperative visits separately reportable?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery and permits co-surgeons for this code. Team surgery is not permitted.
What should the operative report establish?
Document laparoscopic bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic node sampling. A report describing only node sampling or biopsy does not establish the full scope of 38572.
What happens when related endoscopies are performed in the same session?
Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. Review the reported services and operative documentation in light of that pricing rule.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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