CPT code 93888: Transcranial Doppler, limited intracranial study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina
Report this study for a limited transcranial Doppler assessment of intracranial arterial blood flow, rather than a complete intracranial examination.
CMS doesn’t publish a rate for 93888 in North Carolina.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 93888 nationwide
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 11 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.
How North Carolina compares for 93888
- North Carolina · this pageUnavailable
- Los Angeles, CA · CaliforniaUnavailable
- Washington, DC area · District of ColumbiaUnavailable
- Miami, FL · FloridaUnavailable
- Chicago, IL · IllinoisUnavailable
- Manhattan, NY · New YorkUnavailable
- Alaska · AlaskaUnavailable
Other areas in North Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
93888 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.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
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.
How 93888 has changed in North Carolina
93888 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.
What changed, release by release
January 1, 2017
RVU17A
$140.81changed toNo rate
Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1, RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D, RVU19A, RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D, RVU20A, RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D, RVU21A, RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D, RVU22A, RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D, RVU23A, RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D, RVU24A, RVU24AR, RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D, RVU25A, RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D, RVU26A, RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.
January 1, 2016
RVU16A
$142.05changed to$140.81
- Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
- Practice expense RVU 3.68 changed to 3.65
- Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05
Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.
July 1, 2015
RVU15C
$141.34changed to$142.05
- Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335
Held through RVU15D.
January 1, 2015
RVU15A
No ratechanged to$141.34
Held through RVU15B.
January 1, 2013
RVU13AR
Earliest loaded release: No rate
Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.
| Effective from | Office | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | $140.81 | Not available in this setting | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | $140.81 | Not available in this setting | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | $140.81 | Not available in this setting | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | $140.81 | Not available in this setting | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | $142.05 | Not available in this setting | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | $142.05 | Not available in this setting | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | $141.34 | Not available in this setting | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | $141.34 | Not available in this setting | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Additional calculation required | Not available in this setting | RVU13AR |
Where the North Carolina rate applies
North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Aberdeen
- Advance
- Ahoskie
- Alamance
- Albemarle
- Alexis
- Alliance
- Altamahaw
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.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Fee sheets · Coming soon
Put 93888 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Join the waitlist