CPT code 77081: Bone density, appendicular skeleton2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $36.51 for 77081 in the office.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 77081 nationwide

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

What 77081 covers

This service uses dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure bone mineral density at an appendicular, or peripheral, skeletal site. A common example is measurement at the forearm. The test may be part of an osteoporosis evaluation when a peripheral measurement is needed; the acquisition is typically performed by radiology or bone-density staff, with interpretation by a physician or other qualified professional. The report should identify the site examined and include the findings and interpretation.

Report this code for the peripheral DXA study, not for central measurements of the spine or hip. The CMS physician fee schedule recognizes separate professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff service, and no modifier represents the global service. Documentation should support the appendicular site measured and the service actually furnished. The descriptor encompasses one or more peripheral sites as a single study.

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 77081

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 77081 runs from $27.97 in Arkansas to $42.93 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $36.51. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

77081 rates by state

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

See 77081 in every payment locality

How the 77081 rate is calculated

Each of 77081’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 77081

The CMS indicators that decide how 77081 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 77081

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

How 77081 has changed in Washington, DC area

Price 77081 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

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