CPT code 93886: Intracranial Doppler, complete study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports a complete transcranial Doppler examination of intracranial arteries, such as for monitoring cerebral vasospasm or assessing intracranial blood flow.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities81.1K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $269.88 for 93886 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $234.94–$376.68.

Medicare rate · 93886

Intracranial Doppler, complete study

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.88
Total RVUs
8.08
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$269.88

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 93886 →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 93886 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 93886 covers

A complete transcranial Doppler study evaluates blood-flow signals in intracranial arteries using ultrasound. A vascular laboratory sonographer commonly performs the acquisition, with a qualified physician interpreting the findings. Clinical uses include monitoring for cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage and evaluating intracranial blood flow in patients with suspected cerebrovascular disease or sickle cell disease.

Report 93886 when the documented examination covers a complete intracranial study; use 93888 when the performed study is limited. The report should identify the clinical indication, vessels or acoustic windows assessed, and interpretation. The code may be billed globally or split into the professional interpretation with modifier 26 and the technical service with modifier TC. The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component, so it affects the TC portion when applicable.

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 93886 pays more and less

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

109 payment localities

$234.94 to $376.68

$234.94$305.81$376.68
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

93886 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$238.89Unavailable
Alaska$298.66Unavailable
Arizona$262.08Unavailable
Arkansas$234.94Unavailable
Atlanta, GA$274.37Unavailable
Austin, TX$283.37Unavailable
Bakersfield, CA$292.06Unavailable
Baltimore area, MD$288.40Unavailable
Beaumont, TX$248.29Unavailable
Brazoria, TX$267.32Unavailable

93886 rates by state

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

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.

$234.94

$334.23

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
93886 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$298.661
AL$238.891
AR$234.941
AZ$262.081
CA$291.78–$376.6829
CO$284.771
CT$289.381
DC$314.081
DE$266.871
FL$260.94–$284.213
GA$244.81–$274.372
GU$301.151
HI$301.151
IA$247.881
ID$249.301
IL$250.91–$278.824
IN$251.001
KS$245.591
KY$243.261
LA$242.44–$256.282
MA$282.33–$316.822
MD$272.78–$314.083
ME$249.74–$266.632
MI$249.61–$263.632
MN$274.651
MO$237.03–$258.493
MS$236.081
MT$269.871
NC$252.881
ND$268.091
NE$249.721
NH$279.241
NJ$293.19–$309.932
NM$250.771
NV$269.611
NY$257.11–$319.225
OH$249.241
OK$243.801
OR$268.04–$295.942
PA$250.24–$280.732
PR$272.451
RI$277.951
SC$251.381
SD$267.881
TN$246.881
TX$248.29–$283.378
UT$255.321
VA$264.96–$314.082
VI$272.451
VT$266.021
WA$282.13–$324.712
WI$257.821
WV$240.061
WY$269.101

How the 93886 rate is calculated

Each of 93886’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 · 93886

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.88

0.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.11

7.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.09

0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.0800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$269.88

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 93886

The CMS indicators that decide how 93886 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 93886

Intracranial Doppler, complete study

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures6Diagnostic cardiovascular reduction applies to the technical component.
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

93886 without 26 · national office

$269.88

Intracranial Doppler, complete study

93886-26 · Professional component

$45.43

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

93886 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 93886

    Intracranial Doppler, complete study0.88 wRVU

    $269.88

  • 93888

    Transcranial Doppler, limited intracranial study0.71 wRVU

    $170.34−$99.54

  • 93880

    Carotid duplex, complete bilateral extracranial study0.78 wRVU

    $189.05−$80.83

  • 93892

    Emboli detection, without injection1.12 wRVU

    $306.29+$36.41

How to choose

93888Transcranial DopplerLimited intracranial study
93888 is for a limited intracranial examination; 93886 represents a complete study. Base the choice on the scope actually performed and documented.
93880Carotid duplexComplete bilateral extracranial study
93880 evaluates extracranial carotid arteries bilaterally, while 93886 evaluates intracranial arteries with transcranial Doppler.
93892Emboli detectionWithout injection
93892 is specifically for transcranial Doppler emboli detection without injection; 93886 reports the complete intracranial study rather than that emboli-detection protocol.

93886 billing questions

How do I choose between 93886 and 93888?

Use 93886 for a complete intracranial Doppler examination and 93888 for a limited study. The documented scope of the examination should support the selection.

Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?

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

Which portion is subject to the multiple procedure reduction?

The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component. It affects the TC portion when that component is billed.

Can 93880 be reported on the same date?

It may be reported when a separate extracranial bilateral carotid study is also performed and documented. The intracranial Doppler examination does not describe that extracranial study.

Does 93886 include emboli detection?

93886 describes a complete intracranial Doppler examination. Use 93892 when the service includes a separately performed transcranial Doppler emboli-detection study without injection.

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 93886PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,281 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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