CPT code 78645: CSF shunt study, shunt patency assessment2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Idaho

Nuclear medicine imaging tracks radiotracer movement through a cerebrospinal fluid shunt to investigate suspected impaired flow or shunt malfunction.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality686 Medicare services in 2024

In Idaho, Medicare pays $262.73 for 78645 in the office.

$262.73Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
−7.9%vs the national office rate ($285.24)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 78645 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 78645 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Idaho
  2. What 78645 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 78645 covers

This study evaluates flow through an implanted cerebrospinal fluid shunt, commonly when symptoms or other findings raise concern for obstruction or malfunction. A nuclear medicine team administers radiotracer through the shunt access point and obtains images to follow its movement through the shunt pathway. The study may help assess whether flow is occurring and where it appears impaired.

Report 78645 for the shunt-focused radionuclide evaluation, rather than a study directed at general CSF circulation, ventricular imaging, or leak localization. Documentation should identify the clinical concern, the shunt evaluated, the radiotracer administration and imaging performed, and the interpretation of tracer progression. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for equipment and staff, or no component modifier for the global service. The professional and technical components are separately priced.

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 Idaho compares for 78645

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 78645 runs from $246.74 in Arkansas to $402.69 in San Benito County, CA. Idaho pays $262.73. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

78645 in Idaho vs other payment areas
  1. Idaho · this page$262.73
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$333.40+$70.67
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$333.52+$70.79
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$300.15+$37.42
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$290.15+$27.42
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$330.75+$68.02
  7. Alaska · Alaska$310.55+$47.82

Other areas in Idaho first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

78645 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$251.10—
ArkansasArkansas$246.74—
ArizonaArizona$276.68—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$309.89—
Chico, CACalifornia$309.65—
El Centro, CACalifornia$309.67—
Fresno, CACalifornia$309.65—
Hanford, CACalifornia$309.65—

78645 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.

$246.74

$356.17

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

View every state and territory as a table
78645 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$310.551
AL$251.101
AR$246.741
AZ$276.681
CA$309.65–$402.6929
CO$301.771
CT$306.501
DC$333.521
DE$281.901
FL$274.98–$300.153
GA$257.26–$290.062
GU$320.271
HI$320.271
IA$261.201
ID$262.731
IL$263.79–$294.564
IN$264.611
KS$258.591
KY$255.731
LA$254.79–$270.042
MA$298.99–$336.912
MD$288.38–$333.523
ME$263.12–$281.882
MI$262.63–$277.842
MN$291.011
MO$248.76–$272.583
MS$247.871
MT$285.241
NC$266.601
ND$283.661
NE$263.261
NH$295.731
NJ$310.53–$328.822
NM$263.881
NV$285.061
NY$271.26–$338.605
OH$262.311
OK$256.411
OR$283.39–$314.152
PA$263.46–$296.912
PR$288.111
RI$294.021
SC$264.791
SD$283.471
TN$259.991
TX$261.31–$300.288
UT$269.141
VA$279.97–$333.522
VI$288.111
VT$281.291
WA$298.83–$345.592
WI$272.311
WV$251.831
WY$284.551

See 78645 in every payment locality

How the 78645 rate is calculated

Each of 78645’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 · 78645

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.56

0.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.90

7.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.08

0.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.5400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$285.24

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

The exact Idaho inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,470

Code
78645
Physician work
0.56
Practice expense
7.90
Malpractice
0.08

GPCI2026.csv

47

Locality
Idaho
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.920
Malpractice
0.473
Office calculation for 78645 in Idaho
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.56× 1.0000.5600
Practice expense7.90× 0.9207.2680
Malpractice0.08× 0.4730.0378
Total RVUs7.8658
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Idaho$262.73

Office: (0.56 × 1 + 7.9 × 0.92 + 0.08 × 0.473) × $33.4009 = $262.73

Open 78645 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 78645

The CMS indicators that decide how 78645 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78645

CSF shunt study, shunt patency assessment

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/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

78645 without 26 · national office

$285.24

CSF shunt study, shunt patency assessment

78645-26 · Professional component

$25.72

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

How 78645 has changed in Idaho

78645 · Office / nonfacility

$262.73

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $6.67 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $256.06 to $262.73 (2.6%).

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

    $256.06changed to$262.73

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.57 changed to 0.56
    • Practice expense RVU 8.05 changed to 7.90
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.920
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.461 changed to 0.473

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $268.20changed to$256.06

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 8.20 changed to 8.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $263.82changed to$268.20

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $273.19changed to$263.82

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 8.36 changed to 8.20
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.893 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.439 changed to 0.461
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $278.71changed to$273.19

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 8.50 changed to 8.36
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.877 changed to 0.893
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.416 changed to 0.439

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $292.64changed to$278.71

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 8.88 changed to 8.50

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $299.26changed to$292.64

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.64 changed to 8.88
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.890 changed to 0.877
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.464 changed to 0.416

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $305.62changed to$299.26

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.73 changed to 8.64
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.890
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.512 changed to 0.464

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $310.81changed to$305.62

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.90 changed to 8.73

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $307.59changed to$310.81

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.85 changed to 8.90
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.900 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.510 changed to 0.512

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $303.66changed to$307.59

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.77 changed to 8.85
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.898 changed to 0.900
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.508 changed to 0.510

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $304.43changed to$303.66

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.76 changed to 8.77

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $302.92changed to$304.43

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $297.01changed to$302.92

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.58 changed to 8.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.898
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.556 changed to 0.508

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    No ratechanged to$297.01

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$262.73Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$262.73Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$262.73Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$262.73Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$256.06Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$256.06Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$256.06Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$256.06Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$268.20Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$268.20Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$268.20Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$268.20Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$263.82Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$273.19Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$273.19Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$273.19Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$273.19Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$278.71Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$278.71Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$278.71Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$278.71Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$292.64Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$292.64Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$292.64Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$292.64Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$299.26Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$299.26Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$299.26Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$299.26Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$305.62Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$305.62Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$305.62Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$305.62Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$310.81Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$310.81Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$310.81Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$310.81Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$307.59Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$307.59Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$307.59Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$307.59Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$303.66Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$303.66Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$303.66Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$303.66Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$304.43Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$304.43Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$302.92Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$302.92Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$297.01Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$297.01Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$297.01Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$297.01Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 78645 for an earlier date of service

Where the Idaho rate applies

Idaho is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 235 cities and communities in Idaho. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Acequia
  • Albion
  • American Falls
  • Ammon
  • Arbon Valley
  • Arco
  • Arimo

Browse all communities in Idaho

78645 billing questions

When should I report 78645 instead of a CSF cisternography code?

Report 78645 when the imaging evaluates flow through an implanted CSF shunt. Cisternography evaluates CSF circulation rather than shunt patency.

How do I report the professional and technical portions?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What documentation supports 78645?

Document the suspected shunt problem, the shunt evaluated, radiotracer administration, the imaging performed, and the interpreting clinician’s findings about tracer progression.

Is this the right code for locating a CSF leak?

No. 78645 evaluates an implanted shunt; code 78650 is associated with CSF leak imaging.

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 78645PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,470 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for IdahoGPCI2026.csv, line 47 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 78645 pays in Idaho?

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

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 78645 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

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

Join the waitlist