Billing code 88311: Tissue decalcificationMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports laboratory decalcification that removes mineral from bone or other calcified tissue so the specimen can be sectioned for microscopic examination.
Medicare pays $19.46–$20.92 for 88311 in the office in Oregon, from Rest Of Oregon to Portland. 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 88311 covers
A histology laboratory decalcifies bone and other calcified tissue by removing mineral that would prevent the specimen from being cut into thin sections. This preparation may be needed for a bone biopsy, a bone-containing tumor specimen, or another calcified tissue sample before microscopic evaluation. Laboratory personnel generally perform the processing; a pathologist interprets the resulting tissue examination as part of the diagnostic workup.
Report 88311 when decalcification is performed, alongside the applicable surgical pathology examination when that specimen is also examined. The record should identify the specimen and support why decalcification was needed; the pathology report documents the diagnostic examination. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, modifier TC identifies the technical work, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. The professional and technical components are separately priced.
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 88311 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | $20.92 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $19.46 | Unavailable |
How the 88311 rate is calculated
Each of 88311’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 · 88311
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.23
0.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.34
0.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.5900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$19.71
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88311
The CMS indicators that decide how 88311 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88311
Tissue decalcification
| 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
88311 without 26 · national office
$19.71
Tissue decalcification
88311-26 · Professional component
$11.36
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88311 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88305Tissue pathology exam
- 88305 reports a surgical pathology examination at its specimen level; 88311 reports the separate decalcification preparation.
- 88307Tissue pathology exam
- 88307 represents a level V surgical pathology examination, not the mineral-removal process used to prepare calcified tissue.
- 88312Special stain
- 88312 reports a special stain procedure. Use 88311 for decalcification, which prepares tissue by removing mineral rather than applying a stain.
88311 billing questions
Is 88311 the surgical pathology examination of the specimen?
No. It reports decalcification preparation; the surgical pathology code represents the examination and diagnostic work on the specimen.
Can 88311 be reported with a surgical pathology code?
Yes, when decalcification is performed and the same specimen also receives a surgical pathology examination. Select the examination code for the specimen and service documented.
Which modifier identifies the pathologist's work?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation. Modifier TC identifies the technical work, and no modifier represents the global service.
What should the record support?
Document the tissue specimen, the decalcification performed, and the associated microscopic examination when one is reported. The pathology report should support the diagnostic work.
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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