CPT code 77061: Breast tomosynthesis, unilateral diagnostic2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 77061 in California.

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

What 77061 covers

This service uses mammographic X-ray images taken from multiple angles to create layered views of one breast for diagnostic evaluation. Breast imaging centers and radiology practices use it when assessing a symptom, such as a palpable finding, or further evaluating an abnormal screening result. It is the unilateral diagnostic code; bilateral diagnostic tomosynthesis and bilateral screening tomosynthesis have separate codes.

Medicare assigns CPT 77061 status I: it is not valid for Medicare reporting, and Medicare uses HCPCS G0279 to report and pay for diagnostic breast tomosynthesis. The CPT code denotes unilateral imaging, not a count of views or reconstructed slices. When conventional diagnostic mammography is also performed, the mammography service has its own code; unilateral diagnostic mammography is represented by 77065.

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 77061 pays more and less in California

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

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 77061 rate is calculated

Each of 77061’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 77061

The CMS indicators that decide how 77061 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

77061 compared with similar codes

How to choose

77062Breast tomosynthesisDiagnostic, bilateral

Both codes describe diagnostic breast tomosynthesis; 77061 is unilateral, while 77062 is bilateral.

77063Screening breast tomosynthesisBilateral screening add-on

77063 is for bilateral screening tomosynthesis. Use 77061 for diagnostic tomosynthesis of one breast.

77065Diagnostic mammogramOne breast, CAD included

77065 represents unilateral diagnostic mammography, not tomosynthesis. It may be reported separately when conventional diagnostic mammography is also performed.

G0279Diagnostic breast tomosynthesisAdd-on to diagnostic mammography

Medicare uses G0279 instead of CPT 77061 to report and pay for diagnostic breast tomosynthesis.

Codes related to 77061

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

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