Billing code 88362: Nerve preparationMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports preparation of peripheral nerve biopsy tissue into individual fibers for microscopic evaluation during workup of suspected neuropathy.
Medicare pays $226.41–$254.40 for 88362 in the office in Washington, from Rest Of Washington to Seattle (King Cnty). 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 88362 covers
A nerve teasing preparation separates peripheral nerve biopsy tissue into individual fibers so the pathologist can examine their structure microscopically. A surgical pathologist or neuropathologist typically performs or interprets this specialized work in a hospital pathology laboratory or reference laboratory. It is used when evaluation of individual nerve fibers is needed in a neuropathy workup, rather than for routine examination of tissue sections alone.
Report 88362 when the teasing preparation is performed. Documentation should identify the nerve specimen and support the specialized preparation and diagnostic evaluation. CMS recognizes a global service when billed without a modifier. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical work, including equipment and staff. The professional and technical portions have separate pricing under CMS.
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 88362 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $226.41 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $254.40 | Unavailable |
How the 88362 rate is calculated
Each of 88362’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 · 88362
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.12Practice expense 4.34Malpractice 0.08
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88362
The CMS indicators that decide how 88362 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88362
Nerve preparation
| 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
88362 without 26 · national office
$218.44
Nerve preparation
88362-26 · Professional component
$105.21
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88362 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
88362 vs 88356 vs 88305 vs 88348: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 88356Nerve analysis
- Choose 88362 for the nerve teasing preparation. Choose 88356 when the service is morphometric analysis of nerve.
- 88305Tissue pathology exam
- 88305 represents routine surgical pathology examination of a biopsy specimen; 88362 represents specialized teasing preparation of nerve fibers.
- 88348Electron microscopy
- 88348 is for diagnostic electron microscopy. 88362 is for preparation of teased nerve fibers for microscopic evaluation.
88362 billing questions
How does 88362 differ from 88356?
88362 reports nerve teasing preparation. 88356 is for morphometric analysis of nerve, a quantitative analysis rather than the teased-fiber preparation alone.
Can 88362 be reported with routine examination of a nerve biopsy?
The teasing preparation is distinct from routine histologic examination of the biopsy. Document the separate work performed; 88305 is the related code for routine surgical pathology examination.
When should modifier 26 or TC be used?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical work, including equipment and staff. Bill without a modifier when the same billing entity reports the global service.
What documentation supports 88362?
Identify the peripheral nerve specimen and document that it underwent teasing preparation for microscopic evaluation. The record should support the pathologist’s interpretation of the preparation.
Is 88362 the same as electron microscopy of nerve tissue?
No. 88362 covers teasing nerve fibers for microscopic evaluation; 88348 is for diagnostic electron microscopy.
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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