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CPT code 27096: SI joint injection, image-guided intra-articular2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports an image-guided injection into the sacroiliac joint for diagnostic or therapeutic care when medication is delivered within the joint.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality306.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $200.69 for 27096 in the office and $80.69 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$200.69Office (non-facility)
$80.69Hospital or facility
+14.2%vs the national office rate ($175.69)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 27096 nationwide

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

We’ll open 27096 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 27096 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 27096 covers

This service places a needle into the sacroiliac joint under fluoroscopic or CT guidance, typically to deliver local anesthetic, corticosteroid, or contrast. Pain medicine physicians, anesthesiologists, physiatrists, and radiologists commonly perform it in office or facility settings for suspected or established sacroiliac joint pain. The injection is intra-articular; medication placed only in nearby muscles or soft tissue is a different service.

Report the code for the guided joint injection, including the imaging guidance and arthrography when performed; do not separately report guidance for this injection. The record should identify the treated side, target joint, imaging method, needle placement, and medication or contrast delivered. The procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When performed with other procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 27096

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 27096 runs from $156.09 in Arkansas to $233.14 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $200.69. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

27096 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$200.69
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$198.58−$2.11
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$187.88−$12.81
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$182.70−$17.99
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$201.42+$0.73
  6. Alaska · Alaska$205.63+$4.94
  7. Alabama · Alabama$158.29−$42.40

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

27096 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$156.09$68.58
ArizonaArizona$171.20$72.49
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$186.57$74.92
Chico, CACalifornia$186.14$74.48
El Centro, CACalifornia$186.16$74.51
Fresno, CACalifornia$186.14$74.48
Hanford, CACalifornia$186.14$74.48
Madera, CACalifornia$186.14$74.48

27096 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.

$156.09

$209.64

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
27096 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$205.631
AL$158.291
AR$156.091
AZ$171.201
CA$186.14–$233.1429
CO$183.111
CT$187.101
DC$200.691
DE$173.981
FL$172.63–$187.883
GA$163.31–$178.742
GU$190.561
HI$190.561
IA$162.421
ID$163.391
IL$167.63–$182.954
IN$164.311
KS$161.571
KY$161.651
LA$161.36–$169.072
MA$182.02–$200.992
MD$177.26–$200.693
ME$164.09–$172.862
MI$165.60–$174.592
MN$175.961
MO$158.60–$169.803
MS$157.381
MT$175.681
NC$165.771
ND$172.911
NE$163.321
NH$180.141
NJ$189.37–$198.702
NM$166.431
NV$175.031
NY$168.15–$206.015
OH$165.031
OK$161.491
OR$173.81–$188.902
PA$165.35–$182.502
PR$176.971
RI$180.151
SC$165.651
SD$172.581
TN$162.341
TX$164.29–$182.388
UT$167.841
VA$172.22–$200.692
VI$176.971
VT$172.151
WA$181.71–$205.142
WI$167.291
WV$161.601
WY$174.471

See 27096 in every payment locality

How the 27096 rate is calculated

Each of 27096’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 · 27096

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.44

1.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.68

3.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.14

0.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.2600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$175.69

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

2,750

Code
27096
Physician work
1.44
Practice expense
3.68
Malpractice
0.14

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 27096 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.44× 1.0541.5178
Practice expense3.68× 1.1784.3350
Malpractice0.14× 1.1130.1558
Total RVUs6.0086
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$200.69

Office: (1.44 × 1.054 + 3.68 × 1.178 + 0.14 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $200.69

Facility: (1.44 × 1.054 + 0.63 × 1.178 + 0.14 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $80.69

Open 27096 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 27096

The CMS indicators that decide how 27096 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 27096

SI joint injection, image-guided intra-articular

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

27096 without 50 · national office

$175.69

SI joint injection, image-guided intra-articular

27096-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$263.54

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 27096

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

Codes related to 27096
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
20552Trigger point injection, one or two musclesUsed for trigger-point injections into one or two muscles, including an unguided SI-region injection.$58.18
64451SI nerve block, image-guided nerve injectionTargets nerves supplying the SI joint rather than injecting medication into the joint.$278.04
20610Joint injection, major joint or bursa, no ultrasoundReports aspiration or injection of a major joint or bursa at a different site, such as the hip.$77.58

How 27096 has changed in Washington, DC area

27096 · Office / nonfacility

$200.69

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $17.57 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $183.12 to $200.69 (9.6%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $183.12changed to$200.69

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.48 changed to 1.44
    • Practice expense RVU 3.29 changed to 3.68
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.14
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $188.85changed to$183.12

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.31 changed to 3.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.15

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $185.77changed to$188.85

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $192.50changed to$185.77

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.25 changed to 3.31
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $198.37changed to$192.50

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.14
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $201.35changed to$198.37

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.26 changed to 3.25
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $194.22changed to$201.35

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.00 changed to 3.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.14
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $189.74changed to$194.22

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.96 changed to 3.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.13
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $188.23changed to$189.74

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 2.93 changed to 2.96

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $187.42changed to$188.23

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 2.92 changed to 2.93
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $190.22changed to$187.42

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 2.98 changed to 2.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.12
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $189.58changed to$190.22

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 2.96 changed to 2.98
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.13

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $188.64changed to$189.58

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $190.46changed to$188.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.01 changed to 2.96
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $196.81changed to$190.46

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.41 changed to 3.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.12
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $196.81

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$200.69$80.69RVU26D
2026-07-01$200.69$80.69RVU26C
2026-04-01$200.69$80.69RVU26B
2026-01-01$200.69$80.69RVU26A
2025-10-01$183.12$89.81RVU25D
2025-07-01$183.12$89.81RVU25C
2025-04-01$183.12$89.81RVU25B
2025-01-01$183.12$89.81RVU25A
2024-10-01$188.85$91.24RVU24D
2024-07-01$188.85$91.24RVU24C
2024-04-01$188.85$91.24RVU24B
2024-03-09$188.85$91.24RVU24AR
2024-01-01$185.77$89.75RVU24A
2023-10-01$192.50$92.95RVU23D
2023-07-01$192.50$92.95RVU23C
2023-04-01$192.50$92.95RVU23B
2023-01-01$192.50$92.95RVU23A
2022-10-01$198.37$94.00RVU22D
2022-07-01$198.37$94.00RVU22C
2022-04-01$198.37$94.00RVU22B
2022-01-01$198.37$94.00RVU22A
2021-10-01$201.35$95.69RVU21D
2021-07-01$201.35$95.69RVU21C
2021-04-01$201.35$95.69RVU21B
2021-01-01$201.35$95.69RVU21A
2020-10-01$194.22$96.39RVU20D
2020-07-01$194.22$96.39RVU20C
2020-04-01$194.22$96.39RVU20B
2020-01-01$194.22$96.39RVU20A
2019-10-01$189.74$95.06RVU19D
2019-07-01$189.74$95.06RVU19C
2019-04-01$189.74$95.06RVU19B
2019-01-01$189.74$95.06RVU19A
2018-10-01$188.23$95.83RVU18D
2018-07-01$188.23$95.83RVU18C
2018-04-01$188.23$95.83RVU18B
2018-01-01$188.23$95.83RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$187.42$95.74RVU17D
2017-07-01$187.42$95.74RVU17C
2017-04-01$187.42$95.74RVU17B
2017-01-01$187.42$95.74RVU17A
2016-10-01$190.22$97.03RVU16D
2016-07-01$190.22$97.03RVU16C
2016-04-01$190.22$97.03RVU16B
2016-01-01$190.22$97.03RVU16A
2015-10-01$189.58$96.92RVU15D
2015-07-01$189.58$96.92RVU15C
2015-04-01$188.64$96.44RVU15B
2015-01-01$188.64$96.44RVU15A
2014-10-01$190.46$96.59RVU14D
2014-07-01$190.46$96.59RVU14C
2014-04-01$190.46$96.59RVU14B
2014-01-01$190.46$96.59RVU14A
2013-10-01$196.81$95.32RVU13D
2013-07-01$196.81$95.32RVU13C
2013-04-01$196.81$95.32RVU13B
2013-01-01$196.81$95.32RVU13AR

Price 27096 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

27096 billing questions

When should 27096 be chosen over 20552?

Use 27096 for an image-guided injection into the sacroiliac joint itself. Code 20552 describes trigger-point injections into one or two muscles, including situations where an SI-region injection is performed without image guidance.

Can imaging guidance be billed separately?

No. Fluoroscopic or CT guidance is included in 27096, as is arthrography when performed.

How is bilateral SI joint injection reported?

Report modifier 50 when both sacroiliac joints are treated. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

What documentation supports 27096?

Document the clinical indication, side and joint treated, imaging method and needle placement, and the medication or contrast injected. The record should support that the needle entered the joint rather than only nearby soft tissue.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting are not permitted.

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and the other procedure or procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.

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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 27096PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,750 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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