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CPT code 93656: AF ablation, pulmonary vein isolation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports catheter-based electrophysiologic evaluation and ablation for atrial fibrillation, typically isolating pulmonary veins during an electrophysiology lab procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities94.8K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $806.63 for 93656 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 93656

AF ablation, pulmonary vein isolation

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
16.58
Total RVUs
24.15
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$806.63

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 93656 →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 93656 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 93656 covers

An electrophysiologist uses intracardiac catheters to evaluate the heart’s electrical activity and ablate tissue to treat atrial fibrillation, commonly by electrically isolating the pulmonary veins in the left atrium. The procedure is generally performed in a hospital electrophysiology laboratory, with catheter access and transseptal access used as clinically needed to reach the left atrium. The comprehensive electrophysiologic evaluation is part of the service.

Report 93656 for the atrial fibrillation ablation session, supported by documentation of the arrhythmia, the evaluation and ablation performed, and the treatment target. Code 93657 may be reported as an add-on when additional atrial ablation is performed for atrial fibrillation after pulmonary vein isolation. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures in the same session are subject to the standard reduction, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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 93656 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

93656 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$734.67
AlaskaUnavailable$1,032.83
ArizonaUnavailable$784.04
ArkansasUnavailable$726.06
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$836.50
Austin, TXUnavailable$799.94
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$777.83
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$855.37
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$786.36
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$781.23

93656 rates by state

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

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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
93656 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 93656 rate is calculated

Each of 93656’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 · 93656

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work16.58

16.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.66

3.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice3.91

3.91 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

24.1500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$806.63

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 93656

The CMS indicators that decide how 93656 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 93656

AF ablation, pulmonary vein isolation

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
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/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

93656 without 51 · national facility

$806.63

AF ablation, pulmonary vein isolation

93656-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$403.32

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

93656 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 93656

    AF ablation, pulmonary vein isolation16.58 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 93653

    SVT ablation, comprehensive EP evaluation14.63 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 93654

    VT ablation, comprehensive EP evaluation17.65 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 93657

    AF ablation, additional atrial lesions5.36 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 93619

    EP evaluation, without arrhythmia induction0 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

93653SVT ablationComprehensive EP evaluation
93653 is for catheter ablation treating supraventricular tachycardia. Choose 93656 when the ablation treats atrial fibrillation, typically through pulmonary vein isolation.
93654VT ablationComprehensive EP evaluation
93654 addresses catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia. 93656 is the atrial fibrillation ablation service.
93657AF ablationAdditional atrial lesions
93657 is an add-on for additional atrial ablation after pulmonary vein isolation; it does not replace primary code 93656.
93619EP evaluationWithout arrhythmia induction
93619 reports a comprehensive diagnostic electrophysiologic evaluation. Use 93656 when the session includes catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation.

Codes related to 93656

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

Codes related to 93656
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Add-on codes
93657AF ablation, additional atrial lesionsAdd-on for additional atrial ablation to treat atrial fibrillation after pulmonary vein isolation.No office rate
Often billed with
93655Catheter ablation, separate arrhythmia mechanismMay describe ablation of a distinct arrhythmia mechanism treated during the same session.No office rate
936133D mapping, intracardiac electrophysiologyIntracardiac three-dimensional mapping may be reported for mapping performed during the ablation.No office rate
93662Intracardiac ultrasound, EP procedure imagingIntracardiac echocardiography may be performed during the same ablation session.No office rate
Used instead
93653SVT ablation, comprehensive EP evaluationUsed for catheter ablation treating supraventricular tachycardia rather than atrial fibrillation.No office rate
93654VT ablation, comprehensive EP evaluationUsed for catheter ablation treating ventricular tachycardia rather than atrial fibrillation.No office rate
93619EP evaluation, without arrhythmia inductionComprehensive diagnostic electrophysiologic evaluation when the session does not include atrial fibrillation ablation.No office rate

93656 billing questions

When is 93656 selected instead of 93653 or 93654?

Use 93656 for catheter ablation treating atrial fibrillation, typically with pulmonary vein isolation. Codes 93653 and 93654 address ablation for supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia, respectively.

Can 93657 be reported with 93656?

Yes. 93657 is an add-on for additional atrial ablation performed for atrial fibrillation after pulmonary vein isolation; document the additional treatment.

Is the diagnostic electrophysiologic evaluation separately reported?

The comprehensive electrophysiologic evaluation is included in 93656. A separate diagnostic study code should not be used to report that same evaluation.

Should modifier 50 be appended for pulmonary vein treatment on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for 93656, so do not use modifier 50 to represent treatment of pulmonary veins on both sides.

What does the 0-day global period mean for same-day care?

Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure. The CMS global period is 0 days.

What documentation supports reporting 93656?

Document atrial fibrillation as the treatment indication and describe the electrophysiologic evaluation and catheter ablation performed, including the targeted treatment and pulmonary vein isolation when 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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 93656PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,244 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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