CPT code 93893: Transcranial Doppler, venous-arterial shunt detection2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Transcranial Doppler monitoring used to assess intracranial venous-to-arterial shunting, reported when the documented service is shunt detection rather than routine flow assessment.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 93893 in Illinois.
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 93893 covers
93893 represents a transcranial Doppler examination directed at detecting a venous-to-arterial shunt by monitoring intracranial arterial signals. Clinicians may request it when evaluating a suspected right-to-left shunt, including during assessment of otherwise unexplained cerebral ischemia. A vascular laboratory sonographer typically acquires the Doppler data, and a qualified physician interprets the findings in an outpatient or hospital setting. The report should identify the clinical question, vessels monitored, technique, observed signals, and interpretation. A general complete or limited intracranial arterial assessment is a different service.
Select the code that matches the documented service and technique. Code 93898 specifically identifies venous-arterial shunt detection with microbubble injection, so do not assume that protocol from the 93893 descriptor alone. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, modifier TC identifies the technical service, and billing without a modifier represents the global service. When multiple cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are reported, the CMS 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 93893 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.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
How the 93893 rate is calculated
Each of 93893’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 · 93893
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.12
1.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.73
9.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.10
0.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
10.9500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$365.74
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 93893
The CMS indicators that decide how 93893 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 93893
Transcranial Doppler, venous-arterial shunt detection
| 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
93893 without 26 · national office
$365.74
Transcranial Doppler, venous-arterial shunt detection
93893-26 · Professional component
$59.45
Pays only the interpretation and report.
93893 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 93898Shunt detectionIV microbubble injection
- 93893 identifies venous-arterial shunt detection; 93898 specifically identifies shunt detection with microbubble injection. Match the code to the documented technique.
- 93892Emboli detectionWithout injection
- Choose 93893 for shunt detection and 93892 for intracranial emboli detection without injection.
- 93886Intracranial DopplerComplete study
- 93886 describes a complete intracranial arterial Doppler assessment; 93893 is directed at venous-arterial shunt detection.
- 93888Transcranial DopplerLimited intracranial study
- 93888 describes a limited intracranial arterial assessment, not the shunt-detection service represented by 93893.
93893 billing questions
How is 93893 different from 93892?
93893 is for venous-arterial shunt detection. Code 93892 is for intracranial emboli detection without injection.
Does 93893 specifically include microbubble injection?
The 93893 descriptor identifies shunt detection but does not specify microbubble injection. Code 93898 specifically identifies shunt detection with microbubble injection; match the code to the documented service.
How should the professional and technical work be billed?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation, TC for the technical service, or neither modifier for the global service.
Which part of 93893 is subject to the multiple-procedure reduction?
The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple-procedure reduction applies to the technical component.
What documentation supports reporting 93893?
Document the shunt-detection indication, vessels monitored, technique, observed signals, 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.
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