# CPT 88172: Cytopathology, evaluation of fine needle aspirate, immediate adequacy assessment, first evaluation

Medicare CPT 88172 pays $54.11 in a non-facility setting and $54.11 in a facility setting under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, before geographic adjustment. After geographic adjustment, state amounts run from $49.41 in Arkansas to $67.02 in Alaska, a 36% spread.

Web page: https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88172-cpt-fee-schedule
Section: Laboratory and Pathology

## Medicare rates

| | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| National non-facility | $54.11 |
| National facility | $54.11 |
| Conversion factor | 33.4009 |
| Release | 2026 Q4 (effective 2026-10-01) |

## By state

| State | Non-facility | Facility |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alaska | $67.02 | $67.02 |
| District of Columbia | $60.92 | $60.92 |
| California | $60.30 | $60.30 |
| New Jersey | $59.23 | $59.23 |
| Washington | $59.03 | $59.03 |
| New York | $59.00 | $59.00 |
| Massachusetts | $58.48 | $58.48 |
| Hawaii | $58.08 | $58.08 |
| Connecticut | $57.09 | $57.09 |
| Colorado | $56.22 | $56.22 |
| Maryland | $55.77 | $55.77 |
| Oregon | $55.77 | $55.77 |
| Rhode Island | $55.49 | $55.49 |
| New Hampshire | $55.30 | $55.30 |
| Florida | $54.84 | $54.84 |
| Minnesota | $54.54 | $54.54 |
| Puerto Rico | $54.44 | $54.44 |
| Virgin Islands | $54.44 | $54.44 |
| Montana | $54.11 | $54.11 |
| Nevada | $54.03 | $54.03 |
| Wyoming | $53.94 | $53.94 |
| Delaware | $53.78 | $53.78 |
| Illinois | $53.75 | $53.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $53.72 | $53.72 |
| North Dakota | $53.71 | $53.71 |
| Texas | $53.70 | $53.70 |
| South Dakota | $53.67 | $53.67 |
| Vermont | $53.47 | $53.47 |
| Virginia | $53.38 | $53.38 |
| Arizona | $53.05 | $53.05 |
| Georgia | $52.85 | $52.85 |
| Michigan | $52.49 | $52.49 |
| Maine | $52.47 | $52.47 |
| Wisconsin | $52.34 | $52.34 |
| Utah | $52.18 | $52.18 |
| North Carolina | $51.79 | $51.79 |
| New Mexico | $51.67 | $51.67 |
| South Carolina | $51.65 | $51.65 |
| Missouri | $51.54 | $51.54 |
| Indiana | $51.50 | $51.50 |
| Louisiana | $51.44 | $51.44 |
| Ohio | $51.41 | $51.41 |
| Nebraska | $51.30 | $51.30 |
| Idaho | $51.27 | $51.27 |
| Iowa | $51.07 | $51.07 |
| Tennessee | $50.97 | $50.97 |
| Kansas | $50.80 | $50.80 |
| Oklahoma | $50.64 | $50.64 |
| Kentucky | $50.60 | $50.60 |
| West Virginia | $50.33 | $50.33 |
| Alabama | $49.94 | $49.94 |
| Mississippi | $49.62 | $49.62 |
| Arkansas | $49.41 | $49.41 |

## Related codes

- 88104: Cytopathology, fluids/washings, smears with interpretation — https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88104-cpt-fee-schedule
- 88106: Cytopathology, filter method, smears with interpretation — https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88106-cpt-fee-schedule
- 88108: Cytopathology, concentration technique, smears — https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88108-cpt-fee-schedule
- 88112: Cytopathology, selective cellular enhancement technique — https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88112-cpt-fee-schedule
- 88120: Cytopathology, in situ hybridization, urinary tract specimen, computer-assisted — https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88120-cpt-fee-schedule
- 88121: Cytopathology, in situ hybridization, urinary tract specimen, manual — https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88121-cpt-fee-schedule
- 88125: Cytopathology, forensic — https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88125-cpt-fee-schedule
- 88141: Cytopathology, cervical/vaginal, requiring interpretation by physician — https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88141-cpt-fee-schedule

Commercial negotiated rates for 88172 by payer and state: https://www.med-reveal.com/solutions/rate-benchmarking

## Sources

- CMS Medicare fee schedules (2026 Q4): https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules