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CPT code 0055T: Image-guided navigation, CT/MRI-based guidance2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Identifies computer-assisted orthopedic bone-surgery navigation using CT or MRI image data to guide instruments during an operation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities32.6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 0055T

Image-guided navigation, CT/MRI-based guidance

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 0055T →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 0055T covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 0055T covers

0055T identifies computer-assisted navigation for orthopedic bone surgery using CT or MRI image data. During an operation, the navigation system uses that image-based guidance to help the surgeon orient instruments in relation to the patient’s anatomy. This is the navigation service, distinct from the bone operation itself. It differs from fluoroscopy-based navigation identified by 0054T and image-less musculoskeletal navigation associated with 20985.

Medicare classifies 0055T as a temporary CPT Category III code for emerging technology with carrier-priced status (C). CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. Category III codes are priced individually by Medicare contractors. The code identifies CT/MRI-based navigation rather than the orthopedic procedure being performed. Total knee or total hip arthroplasty may be an operation assisted by navigation; 27447 or 27130 identifies the operation.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 0055T pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

0055T office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

0055T rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
0055T office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 0055T rate is calculated

Each of 0055T’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 0055T

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 0055T

0055T has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

Place of service · 0055T

Which rate does Medicare pay?

The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

—

0055T isn’t priced in this setting.

0055T compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 0055T

    Image-guided navigation, CT/MRI-based guidance0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 0054T

    Surgical navigation, fluoroscopic imaging0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 20985

    Surgical navigation, image-less2.44 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 27447

    Total knee replacement, medial and lateral compartments19.11 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

0054TSurgical navigationFluoroscopic imaging
0055T identifies navigation using CT or MRI image data; 0054T identifies navigation using fluoroscopic images.
20985Surgical navigationImage-less
0055T identifies CT/MRI-based navigation. 20985 is associated with musculoskeletal navigation without patient imaging.
27447Total knee replacementMedial and lateral compartments
27447 identifies the total knee arthroplasty operation; 0055T identifies CT/MRI-based navigation that may assist an orthopedic operation.

Codes related to 0055T

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 0055T
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
0054TSurgical navigation, fluoroscopic imagingRelated navigation code for guidance based on fluoroscopic images.No office rate
Used instead
20985Surgical navigation, image-lessAssociated with musculoskeletal navigation performed without patient imaging.No office rate
Often billed with
27447Total knee replacement, medial and lateral compartmentsIdentifies total knee arthroplasty, an operation that may be assisted by navigation.No office rate
27130Hip replacement, total joint, primary procedureIdentifies total hip arthroplasty, an operation that may be assisted by navigation.No office rate

0055T billing questions

When should 0055T be chosen instead of 0054T?

0055T identifies navigation using CT or MRI image data. 0054T identifies navigation based on fluoroscopic images.

How does 0055T differ from 20985?

0055T identifies CT/MRI-based navigation. 20985 is associated with musculoskeletal navigation performed without patient imaging.

Does 0055T identify the orthopedic operation?

No. It identifies the navigation service; the orthopedic operation is a distinct service.

How does Medicare price 0055T?

It has carrier-priced status (C). CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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