Billing code 32662: Mediastinal excisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Thoracoscopic removal of a mediastinal cyst, tumor, or mass is reported when a surgeon excises the lesion through a minimally invasive chest approach.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 32662 in Texas.
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 32662 covers
A thoracic surgeon uses a thoracoscope and instruments introduced through small chest incisions to remove a cyst, tumor, or other mass in the mediastinum, the area between the lungs. This is a surgical excision, not simply a tissue sample. The service is typically performed in an operating room for a patient with a mediastinal lesion requiring removal.
Report the code when the operative record supports thoracoscopic excision of the mediastinal target; document its location and the work performed. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this code. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require 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.
Where 32662 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Unavailable | $862.29 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $829.55 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $835.50 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $846.78 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $845.86 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $841.87 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $908.86 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $836.12 |
How the 32662 rate is calculated
Each of 32662’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 · 32662
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 14.62Practice expense 7.49Malpractice 3.66
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32662
32662 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 32662
Mediastinal excision
| 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) | 0.09/0.84/0.07 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 32662
Mediastinal excision
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
32662 without 51 · national facility
$860.74
Mediastinal excision
32662-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$430.37
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%).
32662 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
32662 vs 32673 vs 32674 vs 32661: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 32673Thoracoscopic thymectomy
- Choose 32673 when the surgeon resects the thymus. Choose 32662 for excision of a mediastinal cyst, tumor, or mass that is not coded as thymus resection.
- 32674Node dissection
- 32674 identifies thoracoscopic lymph node excision. 32662 applies to excision of a mediastinal cyst, tumor, or mass.
- 32661Pericardial excision
- 32661 concerns thoracoscopic pericardial excision; 32662 concerns excision of a mediastinal cyst, tumor, or mass.
32662 billing questions
How is 32662 different from a thoracoscopic biopsy code?
32662 describes excision of a mediastinal cyst, tumor, or mass. A procedure limited to obtaining tissue for diagnosis is not the same service; use the code that matches the work documented.
Should 32662 be used for removal of the thymus?
When the operation is a thoracoscopic thymus resection, compare 32673. Choose based on the structure removed and the operative report.
Can modifier 50 be used for a bilateral procedure?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
What postoperative care is included in the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
When may an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided.
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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