`0018M`

What 0018M is

This code appears in the Medicare NCCI edit tables. It has no RVUs in the CY2026 Physician Fee Schedule file.

Medically Unlikely Edit (MUE)

Medicare caps 0018M at 1 unit per date of service for practitioner claims (MAI 2 - date of service edit (absolute): units above the MUE never pay), rationale: Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction. Units above the cap are denied unless the edit's adjudication rules allow an appeal with documentation.

Billed with 0018M? These codes are bundled into it

0018M is a Column 1 code in 33 active NCCI PTP edits. When one of these Column 2 codes is reported on the same date of service, it is denied as bundled - unless the edit's modifier indicator is 1 and documentation supports a distinct service with an NCCI-associated modifier.

Column 2 code	Short description	Modifier indicator
`81560`	Trnsplj pd lvr&bwl cd154+cll	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`85008`	Bl smear w/o diff wbc count	0 - no modifier bypass	Check pair
`85032`	Manual cell count each	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86353`	Lymphocyte transformation	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86355`	B cells total count	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86356`	Mononuclear cell antigen	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86357`	Nk cells total count	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86359`	T cells total count	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86360`	T cell absolute count/ratio	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86361`	T cell absolute count	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86367`	Stem cells total count	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86821`	Lymphocyte culture mixed	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`86930`	Frozen blood prep	0 - no modifier bypass	Check pair
`88108`	Cytopath concentrate tech	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88112`	Cytopath cell enhance tech	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88160`	Cytopath smear other source	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88161`	Cytopath smear other source	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88162`	Cytopath smear other source	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88184`	Flowcytometry/ tc 1 marker	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88185`	Flowcytometry/tc add-on	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88187`	Flowcytometry/read 2-8	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88188`	Flowcytometry/read 9-15	0 - no modifier bypass	Check pair
`88189`	Flowcytometry/read 16 & >	0 - no modifier bypass	Check pair
`88230`	Tissue culture lymphocyte	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88240`	Cell cryopreserve/storage	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88241`	Frozen cell preparation	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88342`	Imhchem/imcytchm 1st antb	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88344`	Imhchem/imcytchm ea mlt antb	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair
`88356`	Analysis nerve	0 - no modifier bypass	Check pair
`88387`	Macroscopic xm dsj&prep tiss	1 - modifier may bypass	Check pair

Showing 30 of 33 column 2 codes. Use the pair checker for any specific combination.

0018M is bundled into these codes

0018M appears as a Column 2 code in 2 active edits. Reported with one of these Column 1 codes on the same date of service, 0018M is the code that denies.

Column 1 code	Short description	Modifier indicator
`0319U`		0	Check pair
`0526U`		1	Check pair

Data: CMS CY2026 Physician Fee Schedule RVU file (October release, RVU26D) and Medicare NCCI PTP practitioner edits v32.3 (2026 Q4). Verify against the official files before billing or contracting decisions.