# CPT 88173: Cytopathology, evaluation of fine needle aspirate, interpretation and report

Medicare CPT 88173 pays $166.67 in a non-facility setting and $166.67 in a facility setting under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, before geographic adjustment. After geographic adjustment, state amounts run from $149.00 in Arkansas to $196.41 in Alaska, a 32% spread.

Web page: https://www.med-reveal.com/rates/88173-cpt-fee-schedule
Section: Laboratory and Pathology
Billed by: Pathology

## Medicare rates

| | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| National non-facility | $166.67 |
| National facility | $166.67 |
| Conversion factor | 33.4009 |
| Release | 2026 Q4 (effective 2026-10-01) |

## By state

| State | Non-facility | Facility |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alaska | $196.41 | $196.41 |
| District of Columbia | $190.60 | $190.60 |
| California | $189.45 | $189.45 |
| Washington | $184.49 | $184.49 |
| New Jersey | $184.22 | $184.22 |
| New York | $183.25 | $183.25 |
| Massachusetts | $182.48 | $182.48 |
| Hawaii | $182.35 | $182.35 |
| Connecticut | $177.14 | $177.14 |
| Colorado | $174.50 | $174.50 |
| Oregon | $172.97 | $172.97 |
| Maryland | $172.47 | $172.47 |
| New Hampshire | $171.36 | $171.36 |
| Rhode Island | $171.30 | $171.30 |
| Minnesota | $168.96 | $168.96 |
| Florida | $168.65 | $168.65 |
| Puerto Rico | $167.96 | $167.96 |
| Virgin Islands | $167.96 | $167.96 |
| Montana | $166.67 | $166.67 |
| Nevada | $166.51 | $166.51 |
| Wyoming | $166.24 | $166.24 |
| North Dakota | $165.68 | $165.68 |
| South Dakota | $165.56 | $165.56 |
| Delaware | $165.29 | $165.29 |
| Texas | $164.95 | $164.95 |
| Pennsylvania | $164.74 | $164.74 |
| Vermont | $164.65 | $164.65 |
| Illinois | $164.32 | $164.32 |
| Virginia | $164.15 | $164.15 |
| Arizona | $162.72 | $162.72 |
| Georgia | $161.57 | $161.57 |
| Maine | $160.73 | $160.73 |
| Wisconsin | $160.49 | $160.49 |
| Michigan | $160.06 | $160.06 |
| Utah | $159.33 | $159.33 |
| North Carolina | $158.06 | $158.06 |
| South Carolina | $157.33 | $157.33 |
| Indiana | $157.08 | $157.08 |
| New Mexico | $157.08 | $157.08 |
| Missouri | $156.80 | $156.80 |
| Nebraska | $156.42 | $156.42 |
| Louisiana | $156.35 | $156.35 |
| Ohio | $156.28 | $156.28 |
| Idaho | $156.22 | $156.22 |
| Iowa | $155.50 | $155.50 |
| Tennessee | $155.02 | $155.02 |
| Kansas | $154.36 | $154.36 |
| Oklahoma | $153.50 | $153.50 |
| Kentucky | $153.26 | $153.26 |
| West Virginia | $151.73 | $151.73 |
| Alabama | $151.00 | $151.00 |
| Mississippi | $149.61 | $149.61 |
| Arkansas | $149.00 | $149.00 |

## 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 88173 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