CPT code 91200: Liver elastography, transient shear-wave method2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $33.73 for 91200 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $29.69–$45.82.

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

What 91200 covers

This test uses mechanically generated shear waves, commonly vibration-controlled transient elastography, to measure liver stiffness without producing diagnostic images. It is used in evaluating conditions such as chronic viral hepatitis and fatty liver disease, where stiffness can help assess the likelihood or degree of hepatic fibrosis. Trained staff typically acquire the measurements in an outpatient setting, with a physician interpreting the results and documenting a report.

Select 91200 for the mechanically induced liver elastography service, rather than ultrasound elastography performed with imaging. The record should support the clinical reason for testing and include the interpreted results. The global service includes both the technical work, such as equipment and staff, and the professional interpretation and report. When those components are billed separately, report modifier 26 for the professional component or modifier TC for the technical component.

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 91200 pays more and less

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

109 of 109 payment localities

91200 rates by state

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

How the 91200 rate is calculated

Each of 91200’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 91200

The CMS indicators that decide how 91200 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

91200 compared with similar codes

How to choose

76981Ultrasound elastographyParenchymal tissue

Use 91200 for mechanically induced liver stiffness testing without imaging. Code 76981 describes parenchymal ultrasound elastography with interpretation and report.

76982Ultrasound elastographyFirst target lesion

Code 76982 describes ultrasound elastography with limited ultrasound imaging; 91200 is the mechanically induced, non-imaging liver elastography service.

76983Ultrasound elastographyEach additional target lesion

Code 76983 describes ultrasound elastography with complete ultrasound imaging. Choose 91200 when the liver stiffness test uses mechanical shear waves without imaging.

Codes related to 91200

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