Billing code 19298: Breast radiation catheterMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Placement of interstitial tubes or catheters in the breast for radiation treatment, reported when a device is inserted to support breast radiotherapy.
Medicare pays $810.93 for 19298 in the office in Utah (Utah). 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 19298 covers
This service places interstitial tubes or catheters in breast tissue so radiation can be delivered to a treatment area. It is distinct from placing a device to localize a breast lesion for surgical excision. A surgeon or other qualified physician typically performs the insertion in a facility setting as part of a breast cancer treatment plan.
Report the code when the record supports placement of the breast radiation device, including the treated side and the insertion performed. Distinguish this service from the specific expandable afterloading catheter placements represented by 19296 and 19297. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For bilateral services, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.
19298 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | $810.93 | $258.35 |
How the 19298 rate is calculated
Each of 19298’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 · 19298
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 5.61Practice expense 19.44Malpractice 0.44
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 19298
The CMS indicators that decide how 19298 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 19298
Breast radiation catheter
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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
19298 without 50 · national office
$851.39
Breast radiation catheter
19298-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,277.09
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).
19298 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
19298 vs 19296 vs 19297 vs 19281: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 19296Breast catheter placement
- Use 19296 for the specific expandable afterloading catheter placed on the date of partial mastectomy; 19298 describes interstitial breast radiation device placement.
- 19297Radiation applicator
- Use 19297 for the specific expandable afterloading catheter placed after partial mastectomy. Code 19298 is for interstitial breast radiation tubes or catheters.
- 19281Breast localization
- Code 19281 places a percutaneous device to localize a breast lesion for surgery; 19298 places a device for radiation treatment.
19298 billing questions
How does 19298 differ from 19296 and 19297?
19298 covers placement of interstitial breast radiation tubes or catheters. Codes 19296 and 19297 describe a specific expandable afterloading catheter placement following partial mastectomy, with the code choice distinguishing placement on the mastectomy date from placement afterward.
Is this a breast localization-device code?
No. Codes 19281–19288 concern percutaneous placement of a device to localize a breast lesion. Code 19298 concerns a device placed for radiation treatment.
Are same-day preoperative and postoperative services separately included?
No. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
How is bilateral placement reported?
Use modifier 50 for a bilateral procedure; CMS pays the bilateral service at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
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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