CPT code 77022: MRI ablation guidance, guidance and monitoring2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
MRI guidance and monitoring during ablation of tissue within an organ, reported with the procedure when MRI is used to direct and assess treatment.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 77022 in Illinois.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 77022 covers
This service covers MRI used during an ablation procedure to help direct the treatment device into organ tissue and monitor the treated area. It may be used for image-guided ablation of a tumor in parenchymal tissue, such as liver or kidney tissue. A radiologist or interventional radiologist typically performs or interprets the imaging in a hospital or other setting equipped for MRI-guided intervention. The ablation itself is a distinct therapeutic service.
Medicare assigns this CPT code physician fee schedule status C, or carrier priced: the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim rather than CMS publishing a national amount. The code has professional and technical portions. Modifier 26 identifies the interpretation; modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion. Without either modifier, the code represents the global service. Report the imaging guidance and monitoring separately from the applicable ablation procedure when both services are performed.
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 77022 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
How the 77022 rate is calculated
Each of 77022’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 · 77022
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
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 77022
The CMS indicators that decide how 77022 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 77022
MRI ablation guidance, guidance and monitoring
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
77022 without 26 · national facility
$0.00
MRI ablation guidance, guidance and monitoring
77022-26 · Professional component
$191.05
Pays only the interpretation and report.
77022 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 77013CT guidanceParenchymal tissue ablation
- Both codes address imaging guidance and monitoring for tissue ablation. Choose 77013 when CT is used; choose this code when MRI is used.
- 77021MRI needle guidanceNeedle placement
- Code 77021 covers MRI guidance for needle placement. This code applies when MRI guides and monitors parenchymal tissue ablation.
- 77012CT guidanceNeedle placement
- Code 77012 is CT guidance for needle biopsy. It is not the MRI guidance and monitoring service for tissue ablation.
77022 billing questions
When should this code be chosen instead of 77021?
Use this code for MRI guidance and monitoring during parenchymal tissue ablation. Code 77021 is for MRI guidance used for needle placement, not ablation monitoring.
Is the tissue ablation itself included?
No. This code describes the MRI guidance and monitoring service; report the applicable ablation procedure separately when performed.
How do modifiers 26 and TC apply?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical portion. Without either modifier, the code represents the global service.
How does Medicare price this code?
Its physician fee schedule status is C, or carrier priced. 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
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