CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 38746 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Remove thoracic lymph nodes — 4.02 work RVU, about $195.4 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 4.02
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 0.81
- PE RVU (facility)
- 0.81
- MP RVU
- 1.02
- Office payment
- $195.4
- Facility payment
- $195.4
How the payment is calculated
Total RVU is work plus practice expense plus malpractice, each adjusted by its GPCI factor, then multiplied by the conversion factor. For 38746 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (4.02 + 0.81 + 1.02) × $33.4009 ≈ $195.4. The same code in a facility setting pays about $195.4 because facility PE RVU (0.81) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 38746 non-facility payment from $170.68 to $248.99 across CMS localities — from Wisconsin to Alaska. Check your exact locality in the GPCI calculator rather than using a state average.
Related codes
Checking a different code or locality? Open the full RVU calculator to run any of the 7,790 CPT/HCPCS codes with your own GPCI factors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 work RVU for CPT 38746?
4.02. Work RVU measures physician time, skill, and intensity — it does not change by setting or locality. Total payment adds practice expense and malpractice RVUs plus the conversion factor.
How much does Medicare pay for CPT 38746 in 2026?
About $195.4 non-facility ($195.4 facility) at national GPCI with the 2026 $33.4009 conversion factor. Your locality GPCI moves the number — see the range above.
Does the work RVU change between office and facility?
No. Work RVU (4.02) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (0.81 office vs 0.81 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.