Billing code 88307: Tissue pathology examMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Gross and microscopic pathologist examination of a Level V surgical specimen, such as a liver biopsy, cervical cone, or breast lesion excision.
Medicare pays $264.23 for 88307 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 88307 covers
This service covers gross and microscopic examination of a specimen assigned to Level V surgical pathology. Level V includes certain biopsies as well as excisions and resections. Examples include needle or wedge liver biopsies, cervical conization, breast lesion excisions, simple mastectomy, thyroid lobectomy, transurethral resection of a bladder tumor, and lung wedge biopsy. The work is performed in hospital pathology departments and independent laboratories, with a pathologist issuing a signed diagnostic report.
Report one unit for each distinct specimen assigned to Level V, not for each tissue fragment, block, or slide. Select the level from the billing code specimen classification; the report should identify the specimen and document the gross and microscopic findings. CMS prices professional and technical components separately: modifier 26 identifies the pathologist's interpretation and report, and modifier TC identifies laboratory preparation and support. Report the global service without a modifier when one entity provides both components. When separately indicated and documented, additional services such as special stains, immunohistochemistry, decalcification, or intraoperative frozen-section consultation may be reported with the final examination.
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.
88307 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | $264.23 | Unavailable |
How the 88307 rate is calculated
Each of 88307’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 · 88307
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.55Practice expense 6.70Malpractice 0.07
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88307
The CMS indicators that decide how 88307 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88307
Tissue pathology exam
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| 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 | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
88307 without 26 · national office
$277.90
Tissue pathology exam
88307-26 · Professional component
$76.49
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88307 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
88307 vs 88305 vs 88309 vs 88331 vs 88321: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 88305Tissue pathology exam
- 88305 is Level IV and includes specimens such as prostate needle biopsies. Use 88307 for specimens billing code assigns to Level V, such as liver biopsy or breast lesion excision.
- 88309Tissue pathology
- 88309 is Level VI and includes colon segmental resection for tumor. Select 88307 or 88309 from the specific specimen classification, rather than tumor diagnosis alone.
- 88331Frozen section
- 88331 reports an intraoperative frozen-section consultation; 88307 reports the final gross and microscopic examination. Both may be reported for the same specimen.
- 88321Slide consultation
- 88321 is a consultation on slides prepared elsewhere; 88307 covers the gross and microscopic examination of a submitted tissue specimen.
88307 billing questions
How is 88307 chosen over 88305 or 88309?
Choose the level assigned to the specimen type in billing code, not by slide count or time. A prostate needle biopsy is Level IV (88305); a colon segmental resection for tumor is Level VI (88309).
How many units are reported when multiple specimens are submitted?
Report one unit per distinct, separately identified specimen assigned to Level V. Two such specimens from the same case yield two units; multiple fragments of one specimen do not.
When is modifier 26 or TC used?
Use 26 when billing only the pathologist's interpretation and report. Use TC for the laboratory's technical work; bill without a modifier when one entity provides both components.
Are routine H&E stains billed separately?
No. Routine hematoxylin and eosin staining is included. Special stains, such as 88312 or 88313, and immunohistochemistry, such as 88342, may be separately reported when indicated and documented.
Can a frozen section be billed with 88307 on the same specimen?
Yes. An intraoperative frozen-section consultation (88331, with 88332 for each additional tissue block) may be reported with the final 88307 examination of that specimen.
Is decalcification included?
Decalcification is separately reported with 88311 when performed in addition to the surgical pathology examination, such as for bone or calcified tissue.
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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