CPT code 93271: ECG analysis, external event monitoring2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports technician scanning analysis of patient-activated external ECG recordings, such as event-monitor transmissions collected during an ambulatory monitoring period.
Medicare pays $125.86–$141.58 for 93271 in the office in Illinois, from Rest of Illinois to Suburban Chicago, IL. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 93271 covers
This code covers technical scanning and analysis of ECG recordings from external patient- or caregiver-activated monitoring, generally collected over a monitoring period of up to 30 days. A monitoring-center technician or other qualified technical staff reviews transmitted tracings for rhythm events and prepares an analysis report. Typical referrals involve intermittent symptoms such as palpitations or episodic dizziness that may not appear on a brief office ECG.
Report the code for the scanning analysis and report, not for attaching or removing the recorder or for a physician’s interpretation. Documentation should support the monitoring period, analyzed recordings or transmissions, and the resulting technical report. A separate code covers physician review and interpretation. When multiple cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are billed, Medicare’s cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to this code’s 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 93271 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$125.86 to $141.58
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $138.73 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $126.97 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $125.86 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $141.58 | Unavailable |
How the 93271 rate is calculated
Each of 93271’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 · 93271
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.11
4.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.01
0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.1200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$137.61
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 93271
The CMS indicators that decide how 93271 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 93271
ECG analysis, external event monitoring
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 6 | Diagnostic cardiovascular reduction applies to the technical component. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 3 | Technical component only. |
93271 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 93270ECG monitoringRecording and connection
- 93270 covers recording, including connection and disconnection; 93271 covers the technical scanning analysis and report.
- 93272Event monitorInterpretation only
- 93272 is the physician’s review and interpretation. Use 93271 for the technical analysis report, not the professional interpretation.
- 93248ECG monitoringMore than 7, less than 15 days
- 93248 describes extended external ECG monitoring for more than 7 and fewer than 15 days with review and interpretation. 93271 is the technical analysis component for patient-activated monitoring.
93271 billing questions
How does 93271 differ from 93270?
93270 covers the recording service, including connection, recording, and disconnection. 93271 covers the subsequent technical scanning analysis and report.
Does 93271 include a physician’s interpretation?
No. It is a technical-component-only code; physician review and interpretation are reported separately with 93272.
What documentation supports reporting 93271?
Keep the monitoring interval, analyzed ECG recordings or transmissions, and the technical analysis report. The record should support that scanning analysis was performed.
Does the cardiovascular diagnostic reduction affect this code?
Yes. When multiple cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are billed, the reduction applies to the technical component represented by 93271.
Is 93271 the same service as 93248?
No. 93271 is technical analysis for patient-activated external monitoring. 93248 concerns extended external ECG monitoring for more than 7 and fewer than 15 days and includes review and interpretation.
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
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