38746

ActiveAdd-on code

Remove thoracic lymph nodes

38746 is an add-on code — it is only payable alongside a primary procedure: 21601, 31760, 31766, 31786, 32096, 32097, 32098, 32100, 32110, 32120, 32124, 32140, 32141, 32150, 32151, 32160, 32200, 32220, 32225, 32310, 32320, 32440, 32442, 32445, 32480, 32482, 32484, 32486, 32488, 32491, 32503, 32504, 32505, 33025, 33030, 33050, 33120, 33130, 39200, 39220, 39560, 39561, 43101, 43112, 43117, 43118, 43122, 43123, 43351, 60270, 60505.

2026 Medicare payment

Estimated allowed amounts. Pick a locality or enter a ZIP; toggle modifiers to see how the payment rules change the number.

Locality

or ZIP

Show values as

Modifiers

Line	Qty	Non-facility (office)	Facility (hospital/ASC)
38746Remove thoracic lymph nodes	1	$195.40	$195.40

Conversion factor: Locality: national average GPCIs

RVU breakdown (national)

Relative value units before geographic adjustment. Payment = (work×GPCI_w + PE×GPCI_pe + MP×GPCI_mp) × CF

Row	Work RVU	PE RVU (office)	PE RVU (facility)	MP RVU	Total (office)
38746	4.02	0.81	0.81	1.02	5.85

Payment policy for 38746

CMS's indicator fields, translated. These control which modifiers are payable and how.

Professional/technical (PC/TC)

pctc=0

Physician service

Cannot be split into professional/technical components — modifiers 26 and TC don't apply.

Multiple procedures

mult_surg=0

No reduction

No multiple-procedure payment adjustment applies (typical for add-on codes).

Bilateral (modifier 50)

bilt_surg=0

150% rule doesn't apply

Bilateral adjustment does not apply (e.g., the code is unilateral by definition or physiology).

Assistant surgeon (80/81/82)

asst_surg=2

Payable

Assistant at surgery (mod 80/81/82) is paid at 16% of the fee schedule amount.

Co-surgeons (modifier 62)

co_surg=1

Payable with documentation

Co-surgeons paid (62.5% each) if medical necessity is documented.

Team surgery (modifier 66)

team_surg=0

Not permitted

Team surgery (mod 66) may not be paid for this procedure.

Source: pfs.data.cms.gov "Indicators for 2026", retrieved 2026-07-16; conversion factors $33.4009 / $33.5675 (QP) per CMS-1832-F. Estimated amounts — not billing or coding advice.