CPT 88305: tissue exam by a pathologist (surgical pathology). What Medicare pays and what to ask
When a biopsy or tissue sample goes to the lab, 88305 is one of the most common charges. Here is what it means and what Medicare pays.
What this code means
CPT 88305 is the examination of a tissue sample by a pathologist, by eye and under a microscope. It is the level used for many routine specimens, such as skin biopsies or polyps removed during a colonoscopy.
It is billed once for each separate specimen, so a bill can show several units or several lines.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
The Medicare rate shown is the global amount, which combines the lab's technical work and the pathologist's reading. Bills often split these into separate charges from the hospital lab and from the pathology group.
The number of specimens drives the total, so it is worth checking that it matches what was collected.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $350.70 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $701.40 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $1,402.80 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- How many specimens were sent, and how many units are billed?
- Is the pathologist's reading billed separately, and by whom?
- Is any specimen billed twice?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS, July 2026 release), national payment amount, non-facility setting. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.