CPT code 93888: Transcranial Doppler, limited intracranial study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Louisiana
Report this study for a limited transcranial Doppler assessment of intracranial arterial blood flow, rather than a complete intracranial examination.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 93888 in Louisiana.
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 93888 covers
Transcranial Doppler uses ultrasound through the skull’s acoustic windows to assess blood-flow signals in intracranial arteries. A trained sonographer or other qualified staff member typically acquires the study in a hospital or outpatient setting, and a physician interprets the findings. Limited examinations may be used when the requested assessment does not call for the broader evaluation represented by a complete intracranial study.
Choose this code based on the extent of the examination performed, not simply the diagnosis or the number of abnormal findings. The record should support the clinical reason for testing, the vessels or windows assessed, relevant flow measurements, and the physician’s interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for interpretation, TC for equipment and staff, or neither for the global service. The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the 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 93888 pays more and less in Louisiana
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | Unavailable | Unavailable |
How the 93888 rate is calculated
Each of 93888’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 · 93888
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.71
0.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.33
4.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.06
0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.1000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$170.34
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 93888
The CMS indicators that decide how 93888 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 93888
Transcranial Doppler, limited intracranial study
| 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 | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
93888 without 26 · national office
$170.34
Transcranial Doppler, limited intracranial study
93888-26 · Professional component
$36.07
Pays only the interpretation and report.
93888 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 93886Intracranial DopplerComplete study
- Use 93886 for a complete intracranial Doppler examination. Use 93888 when the documented examination is limited in scope.
- 93880Carotid duplexComplete bilateral extracranial study
- 93880 evaluates extracranial carotid arteries bilaterally. This code assesses intracranial arterial flow through transcranial Doppler.
- 93882Carotid duplexUnilateral or limited study
- 93882 is a limited or unilateral extracranial carotid study; 93888 is a limited intracranial transcranial Doppler study.
- 93892Emboli detectionWithout injection
- 93892 is for a transcranial Doppler emboli-detection protocol without injection. Choose 93888 for a limited intracranial flow assessment without that specialized objective.
93888 billing questions
How does this differ from 93886?
93888 represents a limited intracranial Doppler examination; 93886 is for a complete study. Select based on the extent of the examination actually performed and documented.
Can the interpretation and technical service be billed separately?
Yes. Report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and TC for the technical service. Without a 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 of this study.
What documentation supports reporting the limited study?
Document the reason for testing, the intracranial vessels or acoustic windows assessed, the relevant flow findings, and the interpreting physician’s conclusions. The record should make clear that the examination was limited rather than complete.
Is this the right code for emboli or shunt detection?
Use the dedicated transcranial Doppler code for an emboli-detection or venous-to-arterial shunt-detection protocol. This code describes a limited intracranial flow study, not those specialized study objectives.
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.
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