Billing code 32998: Lung tumor ablationMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation reduces or destroys one or more pulmonary tumors, with imaging guidance included when performed.
Medicare pays $2,686.65–$3,069.77 for 32998 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. 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 32998 covers
Code 32998 covers percutaneous radiofrequency treatment intended to destroy or reduce one or more lung tumors. An interventional radiologist or thoracic specialist typically advances an RF probe through the chest wall into the target, often using CT or other imaging. It is performed in a procedural setting for selected patients with a primary lung tumor or pulmonary metastasis; imaging guidance, when performed, is included in the service.
Report this code for radiofrequency ablation, not cryoablation or a diagnostic needle biopsy. One service covers one or more tumors treated during the procedure; document the targets, laterality, percutaneous approach, and RF technique. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral treatment with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 32998 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 payment localities
$2686.65 to $3069.77
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $3,069.77 | $380.54 |
| Beaumont | $2,686.65 | $373.60 |
| Brazoria | $2,894.08 | $375.15 |
| Dallas | $2,910.01 | $378.37 |
| Fort Worth | $2,884.51 | $378.28 |
| Galveston | $2,900.91 | $376.89 |
| Houston | $2,919.58 | $395.56 |
| Rest Of Texas | $2,786.95 | $374.77 |
How the 32998 rate is calculated
Each of 32998’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 · 32998
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 8.80Practice expense 77.68Malpractice 1.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32998
The CMS indicators that decide how 32998 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 32998
Lung tumor ablation
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
32998 without 50 · national office
$2,922.58
Lung tumor ablation
32998-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$4,383.87
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).
32998 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
32998 vs 32994 vs 32408 vs 32999: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 32994Lung tumor ablation
- Both address percutaneous ablation of pulmonary tumors, but 32998 is for radiofrequency treatment and 32994 is for cryoablation.
- 32408Core biopsy
- Code 32408 reports a percutaneous core needle biopsy of lung or mediastinal tissue for diagnosis; 32998 treats a pulmonary tumor by radiofrequency ablation.
- 32999Unlisted px lungs & pleura
- Use 32999 for an unlisted pulmonary procedure when no specific code describes the service; 32998 specifically describes percutaneous pulmonary tumor radiofrequency ablation.
32998 billing questions
When should 32998 be chosen instead of 32994?
Use 32998 for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of pulmonary tumor tissue. Code 32994 describes the cryoablation method.
Can imaging guidance be billed separately?
Imaging guidance, when performed for the ablation, is included in 32998. Do not separately report guidance for that same service.
How should bilateral lung treatment be reported?
For bilateral treatment, report modifier 50. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Does the number of tumors determine the units?
The code covers treatment of one or more pulmonary tumors. Document the treated targets and do not assign units solely by counting tumors.
What documentation supports reporting 32998?
Document the pulmonary tumor targets, laterality, percutaneous approach, use of radiofrequency, and imaging guidance when performed.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
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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