Billing code 78232: Salivary gland studyMedicare rate & RVUs in Nevada
Reports a nuclear medicine study evaluating salivary gland function, including tracer uptake and secretion, rather than imaging anatomy alone.
Medicare pays $103.02 for 78232 in the office in Nevada (Nevada**). 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 78232 covers
This nuclear medicine study evaluates how the salivary glands take up and release a radiotracer. A technologist administers the tracer and acquires images; a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician interprets the functional findings. It may be ordered when a clinician is assessing impaired salivary function, such as persistent dry mouth or suspected gland dysfunction. A stimulation step may be used to assess secretion and clearance as part of the study protocol.
Report 78232 when the service performed is a functional assessment, not simply salivary gland imaging or serial imaging. The record should identify the indication, tracer and acquisition performed, any stimulation used, and the interpreting findings. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. The professional and technical components have separately priced modifiers in the CMS fee schedule.
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.
78232 in Nevada**
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada** | $103.02 | Unavailable |
How the 78232 rate is calculated
Each of 78232’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 · 78232
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.46Practice expense 2.58Malpractice 0.05
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78232
The CMS indicators that decide how 78232 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78232
Salivary gland study
| 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
78232 without 26 · national office
$103.21
Salivary gland study
78232-26 · Professional component
$18.37
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78232 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
78232 vs 78230 vs 78231 vs 78999: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 78230Salivary imaging
- 78230 describes salivary gland imaging. Use 78232 when the study evaluates gland function, such as tracer uptake and secretion.
- 78231Salivary imaging
- 78231 describes serial salivary gland imaging; 78232 is selected for a functional study rather than serial imaging alone.
- 78999Unlisted misc px dx nuc med
- 78999 is an unlisted diagnostic nuclear medicine code. Use the specific 78232 code when the performed service is a salivary gland function study.
78232 billing questions
How does 78232 differ from 78230?
Use 78232 for a functional study assessing gland uptake or secretion. 78230 describes salivary gland imaging without that functional-study focus.
When is 78231 a closer fit?
78231 is for serial salivary gland imaging. Choose 78232 when the performed service is a functional assessment rather than serial imaging alone.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 78232?
Document the clinical reason for testing, the tracer and functional acquisition performed, any stimulation used, and the physician's interpretation of gland function.
Is 78232 reported per gland or per image?
The CMS facts provided do not specify a per-gland or per-image unit basis. Document the study performed and follow the code's applicable reporting instructions.
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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