CPT code 19296: Breast catheter placement2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Kansas
Reports postoperative placement of an expandable breast catheter after partial mastectomy to support interstitial radiation treatment of the surgical site.
Medicare pays $3,609.37 for 19296 in the office in Kansas (Kansas). 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 19296 covers
This service places an expandable afterloading catheter into the breast after partial mastectomy so a radiation source can later deliver interstitial treatment to the surgical site. A surgeon or other qualified physician typically performs the placement, often using imaging guidance to position the catheter. This is the postoperative placement pathway, distinct from catheter placement during the breast operation.
Report the code for postoperative placement, documenting the prior partial mastectomy, catheter placement and target site; imaging guidance performed as part of placement is included. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is 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 pays 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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.
19296 in Kansas
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $3,609.37 | $174.45 |
How the 19296 rate is calculated
Each of 19296’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 · 19296
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.54
3.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense115.12
115.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.90
0.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
119.5600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$3,993.41
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 19296
The CMS indicators that decide how 19296 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 19296
Breast catheter placement
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| 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 | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
19296 without 50 · national office
$3,993.41
Breast catheter placement
19296-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$5,990.12
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
19296 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 19297Radiation applicator
- Choose 19296 for postoperative catheter placement after partial mastectomy; 19297 describes the intraoperative placement pathway.
- 19294IORT cavity prep
- 19294 addresses preparation of the tumor cavity for intraoperative radiation. 19296 places a catheter for later interstitial radiation.
- 19285Breast localization
- 19285 reports ultrasound-guided placement of a breast localization device, not a catheter for interstitial radiation.
19296 billing questions
How does this differ from 19297?
19296 is for postoperative catheter placement. Use 19297 for the intraoperative placement pathway.
Is imaging guidance separately reported?
Imaging guidance performed as part of catheter placement is included in this service.
Does the code include radiation treatment?
No. It reports placement of the catheter for later interstitial radiation; it does not report delivery of the radiation treatment.
What global period applies?
CMS assigns a 0-day global period. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
How is bilateral placement reported?
CMS pays bilateral reporting with modifier 50 at 150%. Document placement on both sides.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. 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 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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