CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 38780 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Remove abdomen lymph nodes — 17.26 work RVU, about $978.98 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 17.26
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 8.48
- PE RVU (facility)
- 8.48
- MP RVU
- 3.57
- Office payment
- $978.98
- Facility payment
- $978.98
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 38780 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (17.26 + 8.48 + 3.57) × $33.4009 ≈ $978.98. The same code in a facility setting pays about $978.98 because facility PE RVU (8.48) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 38780 non-facility payment from $881.21 to $1,232.1 across CMS localities — from Arkansas 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 38780?
17.26. 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 38780 in 2026?
About $978.98 non-facility ($978.98 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 (17.26) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (8.48 office vs 8.48 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.