Billing code 38740: Axillary dissectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Reports operative removal of superficial axillary lymph nodes as a regional dissection, such as during surgical treatment of breast or other malignancy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 38740 in Utah.
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 38740 covers
Code 38740 represents operative removal of superficial lymph nodes in the axilla as a regional dissection, rather than sampling one or a few targeted nodes. A breast surgeon or surgical oncologist commonly performs it in a hospital operating room during treatment of breast cancer or another malignancy involving the axillary basin. The operative report should identify the side and describe the nodal tissue and extent removed; sentinel-node excision alone is a different service.
Report 38740 when documentation supports superficial axillary lymphadenectomy; 38745 describes a complete axillary dissection, while 38525 is used for open excision of deep axillary nodes. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. For bilateral service, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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.
38740 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $650.42 |
How the 38740 rate is calculated
Each of 38740’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 · 38740
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 10.43Practice expense 7.06Malpractice 2.68
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 38740
38740 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 38740
Axillary dissection
| 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 · 38740
Axillary dissection
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
38740 without 50 · national facility
$673.70
Axillary dissection
38740-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,010.55
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).
38740 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
38740 vs 38745 vs 38525 vs 19302: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 38745Axillary dissection
- This code represents complete axillary dissection; 38740 represents superficial axillary nodal dissection.
- 38525Axillary node biopsy
- Use 38525 for open excision of deep axillary node(s), such as targeted node sampling, rather than a superficial regional dissection.
- 19302Partial mastectomy
- This partial mastectomy code includes axillary lymphadenectomy. Do not separately report 38740 for the same dissection included in that procedure.
38740 billing questions
How do I distinguish 38740 from 38745?
Use 38740 for a superficial axillary nodal dissection. Use 38745 when the operative work is a complete axillary dissection.
Is sentinel-node biopsy reported with 38740?
An isolated targeted deep axillary node excision, such as sentinel-node sampling, is generally reported with 38525 rather than as a regional dissection under 38740.
Can 38740 be reported separately with a partial mastectomy?
Code 19302 describes partial mastectomy that includes axillary lymphadenectomy. Do not separately report 38740 for the same dissection included in that service.
How is bilateral axillary dissection handled?
For procedures on both axillae, CMS pays modifier 50 at 150%. The operative documentation should support work on each side.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global 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 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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