CPT code 94618: Pulmonary stress test, simple exercise assessment2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports a simple exercise-based pulmonary assessment, such as a six-minute walk, to evaluate exertional symptoms and physiologic response.
Medicare pays $34.24–$36.10 for 94618 in the office in Missouri, from Rest of Missouri to Metropolitan St. Louis, MO. 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.
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On this page 9 sections
What 94618 covers
This service evaluates how a patient’s breathing and oxygenation respond to exercise. A common example is a six-minute walk test for a patient with exertional breathlessness or suspected exercise-related desaturation. The patient walks or performs another defined exercise activity while the clinical team observes symptoms and measures physiologic responses such as oxygen saturation and heart rate. Pulmonologists and other qualified clinicians may supervise the test, with respiratory therapists or trained staff commonly assisting in an outpatient pulmonary function laboratory or clinic.
Report 94618 for a simple pulmonary stress assessment, rather than a test designed specifically to provoke bronchospasm or a comprehensive cardiopulmonary exercise study. The record should identify the indication, exercise method, relevant measurements, patient response, and clinician interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment-and-staff portion, and reporting without either modifier represents 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 94618 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$34.24 to $36.10
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $35.81 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $36.10 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $34.24 | Unavailable |
How the 94618 rate is calculated
Each of 94618’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 · 94618
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.47
0.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.61
0.61 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.03
0.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.1100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$37.07
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 94618
The CMS indicators that decide how 94618 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 94618
Pulmonary stress test, simple exercise assessment
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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
94618 without 26 · national office
$37.07
Pulmonary stress test, simple exercise assessment
94618-26 · Professional component
$22.71
Pays only the interpretation and report.
94618 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 94617Exercise bronchospasm testWith ECG
- 94617 evaluates exercise-related bronchospasm and includes ECG. Choose 94618 for a simple pulmonary stress assessment not specifically directed at bronchospasm.
- 94619Exercise challengeWithout ECG recording
- 94619 evaluates exercise-related bronchospasm without ECG. 94618 is for a simple pulmonary exercise assessment with a different testing purpose.
- 94621Exercise testCardiopulmonary gas analysis
- 94621 is for comprehensive cardiopulmonary exercise testing. 94618 describes a simpler pulmonary stress assessment, such as a six-minute walk.
94618 billing questions
When should 94618 be used instead of 94621?
Use 94618 for a simple pulmonary exercise assessment, commonly a walk test with physiologic monitoring. Use 94621 when the service is a comprehensive cardiopulmonary exercise test.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service involving equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports 94618?
Document the clinical reason for testing, exercise method, relevant measurements, patient symptoms or response, and interpretation. For a walk test, include the walking performance and recorded physiologic findings.
Is a six-minute walk an example of this service?
Yes. A six-minute walk is a common simple pulmonary stress assessment reported with 94618 when performed to evaluate the patient’s response to exercise.
How does 94618 differ from an exercise bronchospasm test?
94618 evaluates the pulmonary response to exercise. Codes 94617 and 94619 are used for exercise testing directed at bronchospasm, with the applicable code distinguished by ECG use.
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
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