Billing code 38308: Lymphatic surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Nebraska
Reports an operative incision into lymphatic channels when the surgeon directly treats the channels rather than draining a lymph node lesion.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 38308 in Nebraska.
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 38308 covers
A surgeon reports 38308 for an operation in which the lymphatic channels themselves are incised. The operative target is the lymphatic pathway, not a lymph node or a lesion within a lymph node. This is a facility-based surgical service; Medicare recorded facility services for the code in 2024 and no office services. The code is distinct from procedures directed at the thoracic duct, which have separate codes.
The operative report should identify the lymphatic channels treated and describe the incision performed, so the record distinguishes this work from lymph node drainage. This major procedure has a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period are included. For multiple procedures in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and other procedures at half their value. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. 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.
38308 in Nebraska
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | Unavailable | $402.70 |
How the 38308 rate is calculated
Each of 38308’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 · 38308
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.64Practice expense 5.25Malpractice 1.51
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 38308
38308 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 38308
Lymphatic surgery
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.11/0.73/0.16 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 38308
Lymphatic surgery
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
38308 without 51 · national facility
$447.57
Lymphatic surgery
38308-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$223.79
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%).
38308 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
38308 vs 38300 vs 38305 vs 38380: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 38300Lymph node drainage
- Choose 38300 when the operation drains a lymph node lesion. Choose 38308 when the surgeon incises lymphatic channels themselves.
- 38305Lymph node drainage
- 38305 is for drainage directed at a lymph node lesion; 38308 describes an incision directed at lymphatic channels.
- 38380Thoracic duct surgery
- 38380 is a thoracic duct procedure. Use 38308 when the operation is directed at lymphatic channels rather than specifically at the thoracic duct.
38308 billing questions
How is 38308 different from lymph node drainage?
38308 is for an incision directed at lymphatic channels. Use a lymph node drainage code when the operative target is a lesion in a lymph node.
What documentation supports 38308?
The operative report should identify the lymphatic channels treated and describe the incision. This helps distinguish the service from drainage of a lymph node lesion or a thoracic duct procedure.
Are the preoperative visit and postoperative visits separately included?
The day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90-day global period are included in the surgical payment.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
How does Medicare handle other procedures performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the same session are paid at half their value under the standard multiple procedure reduction.
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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