CPT code 93005: ECG tracing, tracing only2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $7.01 for 93005 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $5.91–$9.81.

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

What 93005 covers

This code represents the recording of a routine electrocardiogram with at least 12 leads; it covers the tracing, not its interpretation or written report. Clinical staff or a technician commonly obtains the tracing in a physician office, clinic, emergency department, or hospital. Typical reasons include evaluation of chest discomfort, palpitations, dizziness, or a change in cardiac status, as well as preoperative assessment when an ECG is ordered.

Report 93005 when the tracing is furnished separately from the interpretation and report; when one clinician provides the complete ECG service, the complete-service code 93000 is the closer fit. Documentation should support the clinical reason for the ECG and show that the tracing was obtained and retained; a separately furnished interpretation should have its own report. CMS treats 93005 as a technical-component-only service, with no physician-work RVUs. The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple-procedure reduction applies to its technical component when the qualifying services are performed in the same session.

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 93005 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

93005 rates by state

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

How the 93005 rate is calculated

Each of 93005’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 93005

The CMS indicators that decide how 93005 is paid alongside other services.

93005 compared with similar codes

How to choose

93000Electrocardiogram (ECG)Complete: tracing plus interpretation

93000 is the complete routine ECG service, including tracing and interpretation/report. Choose 93005 when only the tracing is furnished.

93010ECG interpretationInterpretation and report only

93010 covers interpretation and report, not acquisition of the tracing. It may be separately reported when that work is furnished and documented.

93041Rhythm ECGTracing only, 1–3 leads

93041 is for a rhythm ECG tracing. 93005 represents a routine ECG tracing with at least 12 leads.

93017Stress testTracing only

93017 represents ECG tracing as part of a cardiovascular stress test; 93005 is for a routine ECG tracing.

Codes related to 93005

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