CPT code 38760: Groin lymphadenectomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports surgical removal of superficial inguinofemoral lymph nodes, including Cloquet's node, for treatment or staging of malignancy involving the groin.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 38760 in Ohio.
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 38760 covers
This code describes an operative dissection of superficial lymph nodes in the inguinofemoral basin, including Cloquet's node. It is commonly performed by a surgical, gynecologic, or urologic oncologist for groin staging or treatment in cancers such as vulvar, penile, or skin malignancies. The service is typically performed in an operating room and involves more than removal of a single targeted node for biopsy.
Select the code based on the documented operative extent: superficial inguinofemoral dissection including Cloquet's node, rather than a pelvic node dissection or a limited node biopsy. The operative report should identify the side, nodal basin, and extent of tissue removed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For bilateral procedures reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and 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.
38760 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $760.56 |
How the 38760 rate is calculated
Each of 38760’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 · 38760
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work13.28
13.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.16
7.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.93
2.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
23.3700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$780.58
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 38760
38760 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 38760
Groin lymphadenectomy
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| 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 · 38760
Groin lymphadenectomy
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
38760 without 50 · national facility
$780.58
Groin lymphadenectomy
38760-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,170.87
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).
38760 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 38765Groin lymphadenectomy
- Choose 38765 when the operation includes pelvic lymph nodes in addition to the superficial inguinofemoral dissection; this code describes the superficial basin, including Cloquet's node.
- 38531Groin node surgery
- 38531 represents open biopsy or excision of inguinofemoral node(s). This code is for a broader superficial nodal basin dissection.
- 38770Pelvic lymphadenectomy
- 38770 describes pelvic lymphadenectomy. This code describes superficial inguinofemoral dissection, so select according to the nodal basin documented in the operative report.
38760 billing questions
How is this different from 38765?
This code describes superficial inguinofemoral dissection including Cloquet's node. Use 38765 when the documented dissection also includes pelvic lymph nodes.
Can a targeted groin node biopsy be reported with this code?
A limited open biopsy or excision of inguinofemoral node(s) is represented by 38531. This code describes a broader superficial basin dissection, not removal of only a targeted node.
How should bilateral groin dissections be reported?
Report the bilateral procedure with modifier 50. CMS pays bilateral procedures at 150%.
Is pelvic lymphadenectomy included?
This code covers the superficial inguinofemoral basin, including Cloquet's node. If the operative report documents pelvic node dissection, distinguish that extent from this service and evaluate the applicable pelvic lymphadenectomy code.
What documentation supports code selection?
Document the side, inguinofemoral nodal basin, and extent of the dissection, including whether Cloquet's node was included. The operative report should distinguish a basin dissection from a limited node biopsy.
How does the global period affect postoperative billing?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. CMS may pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
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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