CPT code 94617: Exercise bronchospasm test, with ECG2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $93.19 for 94617 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $82.79–$125.63.

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

What 94617 covers

This test evaluates whether exertion provokes bronchospasm by comparing pulmonary function before and after exercise, with ECG recording during the test. It is commonly used when a patient reports wheezing, cough, chest tightness, or breathlessness during or after activity and the clinician needs objective evidence of exercise-related airflow changes. A pulmonologist, allergist, or other qualified clinician may supervise and interpret the test, with trained staff assisting in an office or facility setting.

Report 94617 when the exercise bronchospasm evaluation includes ECG recording; use the no-ECG sibling when ECG is not part of the test. Documentation should identify the exertional symptoms or diagnostic question, exercise performed, pulmonary function findings before and after exertion, ECG recording, and the clinician’s interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for interpretation, modifier TC for equipment and staff, or neither modifier for the global service.

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 94617 pays more and less

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

109 of 109 payment localities

94617 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 94617 rate is calculated

Each of 94617’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 94617

The CMS indicators that decide how 94617 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

94617 compared with similar codes

How to choose

94619Exercise challengeWithout ECG recording

Both evaluate exercise-related bronchospasm. Use 94617 when ECG recording is part of the test and 94619 when it is not.

94618Pulmonary stress testSimple exercise assessment

94618 is pulmonary stress testing, commonly used to assess exercise response such as oxygenation or exercise capacity; 94617 tests for exercise-provoked bronchospasm and includes ECG recording.

94621Exercise testCardiopulmonary gas analysis

94621 is cardiopulmonary exercise testing for a broader assessment of exercise physiology. Use 94617 when the question is specifically whether exercise provokes bronchospasm.

Codes related to 94617

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