Billing code 88112: Selective-enhancement cytologyMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Nongynecologic cytology using selective cellular enhancement, often a liquid-based slide, is reported for specimens such as urine or body fluid with pathologist interpretation.
Medicare pays $61.80–$67.36 for 88112 in the office in Illinois, from Rest Of Illinois to Suburban Chicago. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 88112 covers
This service involves preparing and interpreting a nongynecologic cytology specimen using selective cellular enhancement, such as a liquid-based slide preparation. Typical specimens include urine, bladder washings, pleural or peritoneal fluid, bronchial washings, and cerebrospinal fluid. In a hospital or independent laboratory, technical staff prepare the slide, a cytotechnologist may screen it, and a pathologist interprets the findings and issues a report.
Report one unit per specimen, not per slide. The report should identify the specimen source and preparation method so the selective-enhancement service can be distinguished from direct smears, filter preparations, and concentration techniques such as cytospin. Do not add a concentration code merely for a preparation step within the reported examination. CMS prices professional and technical components separately: modifier 26 identifies the pathologist’s interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the preparation, equipment, and staff work. Billing without either modifier represents the global service when both components are billed together.
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.
Where 88112 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$61.80 to $67.36
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $66.69 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $62.43 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $61.80 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $67.36 | Unavailable |
How the 88112 rate is calculated
Each of 88112’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 · 88112
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.55Practice expense 1.39Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88112
The CMS indicators that decide how 88112 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88112
Selective-enhancement cytology
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
88112 without 26 · national office
$65.47
Selective-enhancement cytology
88112-26 · Professional component
$26.05
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88112 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
88112 vs 88108 vs 88104 vs 88142: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 88108Concentrated cytology
- 88108 covers concentration methods such as cytospin. Choose 88112 when the reported examination uses selective cellular enhancement, such as an applicable liquid-based slide preparation.
- 88104Fluid cytology
- 88104 covers direct smears of fluids, washings, or brushings. Choose 88112 when the specimen is processed using a selective cellular enhancement method.
- 88142Cytopath c/v thin layer
- 88142 applies to an applicable cervical or vaginal thin-layer Pap preparation. 88112 covers selective cellular enhancement of nongynecologic specimens such as urine or body fluid.
88112 billing questions
Can this code be reported for a ThinPrep Pap test?
No. Cervical and vaginal specimens use gynecologic cytopathology codes, such as 88142 for an applicable thin-layer preparation.
Is a cytospin preparation reported with this code?
A cytospin is a concentration technique generally reported with 88108. Use 88112 for a selective cellular enhancement preparation, such as an applicable liquid-based slide.
Can 88112 and 88108 both be billed on the same urine specimen?
Do not add 88108 merely because concentration was a step in preparing the specimen for the 88112 examination. Select the code that describes the cytology preparation and interpretation performed.
Is a cell block from the same fluid separately billable?
Yes, when a cell block is separately prepared and examined, report 88305 for the cell block in addition to the cytology service.
When should modifier 26 or TC be used?
Use modifier 26 when billing only the pathologist’s interpretation and modifier TC when billing only the technical work. Bill without either modifier when both components are billed as one global service.
How are units counted?
Report one unit per specimen, not per slide. Multiple slides from the same urine or fluid specimen do not add units.
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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