CPT code 93971: Venous duplex scan, unilateral or limited study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

Medicare pays $125.30–$161.22 for 93971 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 93971 covers

Extremity venous duplex combines grayscale imaging and Doppler flow assessment with vein compression and other maneuvers to assess venous patency and flow. A painful, swollen leg or arm with suspected deep vein thrombosis is a common reason for the examination; assessment of known thrombosis or venous reflux may also prompt it. Vascular sonographers obtain images in office vascular labs, emergency departments, and hospital imaging departments. A radiologist, vascular surgeon, or other qualified physician interprets the findings.

Report 93971 for a unilateral extremity venous duplex or a limited study, including a focused bilateral examination; a complete bilateral arm or leg venous examination is 93970. Record which limb and veins were examined, compression and Doppler findings, and any technical limits that prevented full evaluation. When components are billed separately, use modifier 26 for physician interpretation and modifier TC for equipment and staff; bill the global service without a component modifier when both are furnished and billed together. For multiple eligible cardiovascular diagnostic tests performed for the same patient on the same date, Medicare's multiple procedure reduction affects 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 93971 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 93971 rate is calculated

Each of 93971’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 93971

The CMS indicators that decide how 93971 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

93971 compared with similar codes

How to choose

93970Venous duplex scanComplete bilateral extremity study

93970 describes a complete bilateral venous examination of the arms or legs. 93971 describes a unilateral or limited examination.

93926Arterial duplexUnilateral or limited

93926 evaluates lower extremity arteries with a unilateral or limited duplex study. 93971 evaluates extremity veins, often when thrombosis is suspected.

93931Arterial duplexUnilateral or limited study

93931 is a unilateral or limited arterial duplex of the arm. A venous duplex of an arm to evaluate a suspected line-associated clot is 93971.

Codes related to 93971

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