CPT code 77090: TBS processing, data preparation and transmission2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports preparation and transfer of DXA data for trabecular bone score analysis, before the technical calculation and fracture-risk interpretation are performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities582 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $3.01 for 77090 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $2.47–$4.03.

Medicare rate · 77090

TBS processing, data preparation and transmission

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.09
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$3.01

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 77090 →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 77090 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 77090 covers

Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a software-based analysis of lumbar-spine DXA data that provides information about bone microarchitecture for fracture-risk assessment. Code 77090 covers the technical workflow of preparing the DXA data and transmitting it for analysis; it does not describe the resulting TBS calculation or a clinician’s interpretation. Imaging technologists or other bone-density staff typically handle this step in an outpatient densitometry workflow.

Select 77090 when the documented service is data preparation and transfer for TBS analysis, rather than calculation alone (77091) or interpretation and reporting (77092). Documentation should identify the source DXA data and show that the preparation and transmission were performed. CMS classifies 77090 as technical-component-only, with interpretation covered by a separate code. CMS assigns no physician-work RVUs to this service.

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 77090 pays more and less

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

109 payment localities

$2.47 to $4.03

$2.47$3.25$4.03
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

77090 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$2.53Unavailable
Alaska$3.03Unavailable
Arizona$2.88Unavailable
Arkansas$2.47Unavailable
Atlanta, GA$3.12Unavailable
Austin, TX$3.12Unavailable
Bakersfield, CA$3.13Unavailable
Baltimore area, MD$3.28Unavailable
Beaumont, TX$2.74Unavailable
Brazoria, TX$2.91Unavailable

77090 rates by state

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

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.

$2.47

$3.57

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

View every state and territory as a table
77090 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$3.031
AL$2.531
AR$2.471
AZ$2.881
CA$3.11–$4.0329
CO$3.101
CT$3.281
DC$3.521
DE$2.941
FL$3.06–$3.633
GA$2.78–$3.122
GU$3.231
HI$3.231
IA$2.581
ID$2.621
IL$2.96–$3.454
IN$2.641
KS$2.581
KY$2.681
LA$2.68–$2.892
MA$3.08–$3.492
MD$3.01–$3.523
ME$2.67–$2.862
MI$2.82–$3.142
MN$2.851
MO$2.63–$2.883
MS$2.551
MT$3.011
NC$2.711
ND$2.811
NE$2.591
NH$3.071
NJ$3.28–$3.462
NM$2.851
NV$2.951
NY$2.77–$3.805
OH$2.781
OK$2.651
OR$2.90–$3.222
PA$2.77–$3.182
PR$3.031
RI$3.061
SC$2.751
SD$2.781
TN$2.611
TX$2.74–$3.128
UT$2.811
VA$2.86–$3.522
VI$3.031
VT$2.811
WA$3.07–$3.552
WI$2.661
WV$2.801
WY$2.921

How the 77090 rate is calculated

Each of 77090’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 · 77090

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.08

0.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.01

0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$3.01

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 77090

The CMS indicators that decide how 77090 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 77090

TBS processing, data preparation and transmission

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical3Technical component only.

77090 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 77090

    TBS processing, data preparation and transmission0 wRVU

    $3.01

  • 77091

    Trabecular bone score, technical calculation only0 wRVU

    $26.72+$23.71

  • 77092

    TBS interpretation, professional component only0.2 wRVU

    $10.02+$7.01

  • 77089

    Trabecular bone score, complete service with fracture-risk assessment0.2 wRVU

    $39.75+$36.74

How to choose

77091Trabecular bone scoreTechnical calculation only
Choose 77090 for preparing and transferring DXA data for analysis; choose 77091 for the TBS technical calculation.
77092TBS interpretationProfessional component only
77090 covers data preparation and transmission. 77092 covers the clinician’s TBS interpretation and fracture-risk report.
77089Trabecular bone scoreComplete service with fracture-risk assessment
77089 covers TBS technical calculation with interpretation and reporting; 77090 is limited to data preparation and transmission.

77090 billing questions

How is 77090 different from 77091?

77090 covers preparing and transmitting data for TBS analysis. 77091 describes the technical calculation itself.

Does 77090 include the fracture-risk interpretation?

No. CMS identifies 77090 as technical-component-only; interpretation and reporting are covered by a separate code, 77092.

When would 77089 be considered instead?

77089 represents a TBS service that includes technical calculation with interpretation and reporting. 77090 describes the data-preparation and transmission step.

What documentation supports 77090?

Document the DXA data used and the technical work to prepare and transmit those data for TBS analysis.

Can 77090 be reported for the DXA scan itself?

No. 77090 describes preparing and transmitting data for TBS analysis, not acquiring the DXA images.

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 77090PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,023 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 77090 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets

Put 77090 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Build my fee sheet