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CPT code 92978: Coronary imaging, initial vessel2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Intracoronary ultrasound or optical coherence tomography evaluates a coronary vessel during catheter-based diagnosis or treatment, reported for the first vessel imaged.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities107.6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 92978

Coronary imaging, initial vessel

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 92978 →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 92978 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 92978 covers

This add-on describes imaging inside a coronary artery or bypass graft with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or optical coherence tomography (OCT). The catheter-based study produces images of the vessel for assessment during a coronary diagnostic evaluation or intervention. Interventional cardiologists typically perform or interpret it in a cardiac catheterization laboratory, often alongside coronary angiography or a percutaneous coronary procedure.

Medicare assigns status C, or carrier priced: there is no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The code is an add-on and must be reported with a primary procedure; it is paid within that procedure’s global period. As a diagnostic test, it may be reported with modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for the technical service, or without a modifier for the global service. Use 92978 for the initial vessel imaged; 92979 identifies each additional vessel.

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 92978 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

92978 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

92978 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

View every state and territory as a table
92978 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 92978 rate is calculated

Each of 92978’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 · 92978

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 92978

The CMS indicators that decide how 92978 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 92978

Coronary imaging, initial vessel

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
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

92978 without 26 · national facility

$0.00

Coronary imaging, initial vessel

92978-26 · Professional component

$92.85

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

92978 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 92978

    Coronary imaging, initial vessel0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 92979

    Coronary imaging, each additional vessel0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 92920

    Coronary angioplasty, single vessel, no stent8.14 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 92928

    Coronary stenting, one artery or branch9.75 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

92979Coronary imagingEach additional vessel
92978 is for the initial vessel imaged; 92979 is for each additional vessel.
92920Coronary angioplastySingle vessel, no stent
92920 describes coronary angioplasty, while 92978 describes imaging inside a coronary vessel. The imaging code is an add-on to a primary procedure.
92928Coronary stentingOne artery or branch
92928 describes coronary stent placement for a lesion; 92978 describes IVUS or OCT imaging and does not represent stent treatment.

Codes related to 92978

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

Codes related to 92978
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
92979Coronary imaging, each additional vesselAdd-on for each additional coronary vessel imaged with IVUS or OCT.No office rate
Often billed with
92920Coronary angioplasty, single vessel, no stentCoronary angioplasty may be the primary intervention accompanying the imaging.No office rate
92924Coronary atherectomy, single artery or branchCoronary atherectomy may be the primary intervention accompanying the imaging.No office rate
92928Coronary stenting, one artery or branchCoronary stent placement may be the primary intervention accompanying the imaging.No office rate
92930Coronary stenting, two or more lesions, one arteryMultilesion coronary stent placement may be accompanied by intravascular imaging.No office rate

92978 billing questions

When should 92978 be used instead of 92979?

Use 92978 for the initial coronary vessel imaged with IVUS or OCT. Use 92979 for each additional vessel.

Can 92978 be reported by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with a primary procedure.

How do modifiers 26 and TC apply?

Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

Does 92978 describe the coronary intervention?

No. It describes intravascular imaging, not angioplasty, atherectomy, or stent placement. Report the applicable primary intervention separately.

How does Medicare price 92978?

Medicare assigns status C, meaning there is no national payment amount. The Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim, and the add-on is paid within the primary procedure’s global period.

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

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