38900
ActiveAdd-on codeIo map of sent lymph node
38900 is an add-on code — it is only payable alongside a primary procedure: 19302, 19307, 38500, 38510, 38520, 38525, 38530, 38531, 38542, 38562, 38564, 38570, 38571, 38572, 38740, 38745, 38760, 38765, 38770, 38780, 56630, 56631, 56632, 56633, 56634, 56637, 56640.
2026 Medicare payment
Estimated allowed amounts. Pick a locality or enter a ZIP; toggle modifiers to see how the payment rules change the number.
| Line | Qty | Non-facility (office) | Facility (hospital/ASC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38900 | 1 | $144.96 | $122.92 |
RVU breakdown (national)
Relative value units before geographic adjustment. Payment = (work×GPCIw + PE×GPCIpe + MP×GPCImp) × CF
| Row | Work RVU | PE RVU (office) | PE RVU (facility) | MP RVU | Total (office) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38900 | 2.44 | 1.31 | 0.65 | 0.59 | 4.34 |
Payment policy for 38900
CMS's indicator fields, translated. These control which modifiers are payable and how.
Professional/technical (PC/TC)
pctc=0Physician service
Cannot be split into professional/technical components — modifiers 26 and TC don't apply.
Multiple procedures
mult_surg=0No reduction
No multiple-procedure payment adjustment applies (typical for add-on codes).
Bilateral (modifier 50)
bilt_surg=1Bilateral 150%
With modifier 50 (both sides), payment is 150% of the single-side amount.
Assistant surgeon (80/81/82)
asst_surg=2Payable
Assistant at surgery (mod 80/81/82) is paid at 16% of the fee schedule amount.
Co-surgeons (modifier 62)
co_surg=1Payable with documentation
Co-surgeons paid (62.5% each) if medical necessity is documented.
Team surgery (modifier 66)
team_surg=0Not 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.