CPT 81001: what Medicare pays in 2026
Lab test or pathology
81001 is on Medicare's Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule at $3.17 for 2026, one national amount that does not vary by locality.
CPT descriptions are copyrighted by the American Medical Association, so this page shows the code number only. The description printed on your bill, or the provider, will tell you what the code covers.
Medicare amounts for 81001 in 2026
- Hospital outpatient status Q4
- lab test: packaged with other services, otherwise paid from the lab fee schedule
- Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, national
- $3.17
What providers charged Medicare for 81001 in 2024
From CMS's national utilization file (the most recent full year published). The charge is the provider's list price, the same kind of figure an uninsured patient is usually billed.
| Setting | Services | Average charge | Medicare allowed | Charge vs allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In an office or other non-facility setting | 6,349,786 | $31.94 | $3.10 | 10.3× |
| In a facility setting | 2,775 | $17.15 | $3.11 | 5.5× |