CPT code 93970: Venous duplex scan, complete bilateral extremity study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

Medicare pays $198.23–$255.12 for 93970 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 93970 covers

A vascular technologist or sonographer uses grayscale imaging and Doppler to assess veins in both arms or both legs, including responses to compression and flow maneuvers. The examination may investigate leg swelling or suspected deep vein thrombosis; reflux testing may help evaluate chronic venous insufficiency before vein treatment. The record should identify the venous segments examined and findings on each side. The study is commonly performed in vascular laboratories, radiology departments, hospitals, or vein clinics and interpreted by a radiologist, vascular surgeon, or other qualified physician.

Report one unit for a complete bilateral study of an extremity pair, supported by images and an interpretation addressing both sides. Use 93971 for a single extremity or a limited examination. Modifier 26 identifies the interpretation alone, and modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion; billing without either modifier represents the global service. The code is already priced for both sides, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. When multiple eligible cardiovascular diagnostic tests are billed together, CMS applies its multiple procedure reduction 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 93970 pays more and less in California

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

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 93970 rate is calculated

Each of 93970’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 93970

The CMS indicators that decide how 93970 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

93970 compared with similar codes

How to choose

93971Venous duplex scanUnilateral or limited study

93970 covers a complete study of both arms or both legs; 93971 covers a unilateral or limited extremity venous study.

93925Arterial duplexComplete bilateral study

93925 assesses lower extremity arteries; 93970 assesses extremity veins using imaging, compression, and flow maneuvers.

93985Dialysis access mappingComplete bilateral study

93985 assesses arteries and veins bilaterally before hemodialysis access creation. 93970 is a complete bilateral extremity venous duplex study.

93990Dialysis access scanExisting access evaluation

93990 evaluates an existing hemodialysis access, including its inflow and outflow; 93970 evaluates extremity veins bilaterally.

Codes related to 93970

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates