Billing code 38700: Neck lymphadenectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Removal of lymph nodes in the suprahyoid neck, commonly performed during surgical management of cancers involving the oral cavity.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 38700 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 38700 covers
A surgeon removes lymphatic tissue from the suprahyoid region, the area above the hyoid bone. The operation may be part of treatment for an oral cavity malignancy when regional nodal disease is being addressed. It is generally performed in an operating room by a head and neck surgeon or another surgeon managing the primary cancer. The operative report should identify the nodal region removed and the extent of dissection.
Report this code for the suprahyoid dissection, not a more extensive cervical lymphadenectomy. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team-surgery payment 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 38700 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 | $716.84 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $684.96 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $697.20 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $703.79 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $702.34 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $700.75 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $736.08 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $692.20 |
How the 38700 rate is calculated
Each of 38700’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 · 38700
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 12.49Practice expense 6.84Malpractice 1.93
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 38700
38700 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 38700
Neck 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 · 38700
Neck 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
38700 without 50 · national facility
$710.10
Neck lymphadenectomy
38700-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,065.15
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).
38700 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
38700 vs 38720 vs 38724 vs 38792: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 38720Neck node removal
- 38700 is limited to the suprahyoid nodal region; 38720 represents a complete cervical lymphadenectomy. Follow the dissection documented in the operative report.
- 38724Neck dissection
- 38724 describes a modified radical neck dissection, a different and more extensive cervical procedure than suprahyoid lymphadenectomy.
- 38792Sentinel node injection
- 38792 covers radiotracer injection to identify a sentinel node, not surgical removal of the suprahyoid lymphatic tissue.
38700 billing questions
How does this differ from 38720?
38700 describes dissection of the suprahyoid nodal region. Use 38720 when the operative service is a complete cervical lymphadenectomy rather than the limited suprahyoid dissection.
How does this differ from 38724?
38724 represents a modified radical neck dissection. Choose based on the extent and type of dissection documented in the operative report, not simply the presence of neck nodes.
What documentation supports 38700?
The operative report should identify the suprahyoid region and describe the lymphatic tissue removed. Documentation should make the extent distinguishable from a complete or modified radical cervical dissection.
How is bilateral reporting handled?
The CMS facts specify modifier 50 for bilateral reporting, with payment at 150%. The record should support work on both sides.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team-surgery payment is not permitted.
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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