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CPT code 95079: Ingestion challenge, each additional 60 minutes2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Houston, TX

Reports each additional 60 minutes of supervised oral ingestion challenge testing after the initial challenge period, such as evaluation of suspected food or drug reactions.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Houston, TX, Medicare pays $85.58 for 95079 in the office and $58.38 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$85.58Office (non-facility)
$58.38Hospital or facility
+0.9%vs the national office rate ($84.84)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 95079 nationwide

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

We’ll open 95079 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Houston, TX
  2. What 95079 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 95079 covers

This code accounts for additional time spent administering a supervised oral challenge in sequential, incremental doses and observing for a reaction. Allergy specialists commonly use ingestion challenges to assess suspected food allergy or drug allergy, or to determine whether a patient can tolerate a food or medication. The service may take place in an office or facility equipped to monitor the patient during the challenge.

Report 95079 for each additional 60 minutes after the initial ingestion challenge service, and only with the primary challenge code 95076. Documentation should support the challenge items and dose sequence, monitoring and response, and the additional testing time. CMS classifies 95079 as an add-on code: it must be billed with the primary procedure, and its payment is made within that procedure's global period.

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.

How Houston, TX compares for 95079

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 95079 runs from $78.80 in Arkansas to $109.54 in Alaska. Houston, TX pays $85.58. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

95079 in Houston, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Houston, TX · this page$85.58
  2. Austin, TX · Texas$86.89+$1.31
  3. Beaumont, TX · Texas$81.38−$4.20
  4. Brazoria, TX · Texas$84.51−$1.07
  5. Dallas, TX · Texas$84.87−$0.71
  6. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$84.52−$1.06
  7. Galveston, TX · Texas$84.66−$0.92

Other areas in Texas first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

95079 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$82.79$56.79
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$92.95$60.55
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$94.12$61.85
Miami, FLFlorida$88.91$60.40
Chicago, ILIllinois$87.51$59.98
Manhattan, NYNew York$94.77$62.95
AlaskaAlaska$109.54$80.38
AlabamaAlabama$79.48$55.51

95079 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$78.80

$109.54

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
95079 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$109.541
AL$79.481
AR$78.801
AZ$83.451
CA$88.41–$105.5229
CO$87.401
CT$88.971
DC$94.121
DE$84.461
FL$84.05–$88.913
GA$81.15–$85.912
GU$89.211
HI$89.211
IA$80.681
ID$80.991
IL$82.55–$87.514
IN$81.271
KS$80.451
KY$80.581
LA$80.50–$82.882
MA$87.20–$93.742
MD$85.61–$94.123
ME$81.24–$83.892
MI$81.83–$84.692
MN$84.741
MO$79.68–$83.063
MS$79.251
MT$84.831
NC$81.751
ND$83.851
NE$80.941
NH$86.151
NJ$90.25–$93.792
NM$82.101
NV$84.601
NY$82.49–$96.235
OH$81.631
OK$80.501
OR$84.19–$89.262
PA$81.71–$87.512
PR$85.221
RI$86.761
SC$81.771
SD$83.731
TN$80.691
TX$81.38–$86.898
UT$82.441
VA$83.72–$94.122
VI$85.221
VT$83.641
WA$87.00–$95.252
WI$82.131
WV$80.701
WY$84.401

See 95079 in every payment locality

How the 95079 rate is calculated

Each of 95079’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 · 95079

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.38

1.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.11

1.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.05

0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.5400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$84.84

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Houston, TX inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

12,471

Code
95079
Physician work
1.38
Practice expense
1.11
Malpractice
0.05

GPCI2026.csv

102

Locality
Houston, TX
Physician work
1.008
Practice expense
0.993
Malpractice
1.376
Office calculation for 95079 in Houston, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.38× 1.0081.3910
Practice expense1.11× 0.9931.1022
Malpractice0.05× 1.3760.0688
Total RVUs2.5621
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Houston, TX$85.58

Office: (1.38 × 1.008 + 1.11 × 0.993 + 0.05 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $85.58

Facility: (1.38 × 1.008 + 0.29 × 0.993 + 0.05 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $58.38

Open 95079 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 95079

The CMS indicators that decide how 95079 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 95079

Ingestion challenge, each additional 60 minutes

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

Codes related to 95079

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

Codes related to 95079
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Houston, TX
Primary code
95076Ingestion challenge, initial 120 minutesPrimary ingestion challenge service required when reporting 95079.$123.91
Used instead
95070Bronchial challenge, technical testingUsed for bronchial inhalation challenge testing rather than an oral ingestion challenge.$39.85
95018Drug allergy testing, percutaneous and intracutaneous testsDrug skin testing evaluates reactivity by a different method than supervised drug ingestion.$19.10

How 95079 has changed in Houston, TX

95079 · Office / nonfacility

$85.58

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.73 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $84.85 to $85.58 (0.9%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $84.85changed to$85.58

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 1.15 changed to 1.11
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.003 changed to 0.993
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.376

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $86.79changed to$84.85

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.12 changed to 1.15
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $85.37changed to$86.79

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $87.03changed to$85.37

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.07 changed to 1.12
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.003
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.409

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $87.88changed to$87.03

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.04 changed to 1.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.032 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.029 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.900 changed to 1.154

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $87.53changed to$87.88

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.01 changed to 1.04

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $88.46changed to$87.53

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.97 changed to 1.01
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.029
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.900

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $88.52changed to$88.46

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.99 changed to 0.97
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.936 changed to 0.918

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $86.97changed to$88.52

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.95 changed to 0.99

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $85.17changed to$86.97

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 0.91 changed to 0.95
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.946 changed to 0.936

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $84.84changed to$85.17

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.009
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.955 changed to 0.946

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $84.80changed to$84.84

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $84.38changed to$84.80

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $84.90changed to$84.38

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.92 changed to 0.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.04
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.019
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.006
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.939 changed to 0.955

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $82.69changed to$84.90

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.99 changed to 0.92
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.002 changed to 1.004
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.923 changed to 0.939

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $82.69

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$85.58$58.38RVU26D
2026-07-01$85.58$58.38RVU26C
2026-04-01$85.58$58.38RVU26B
2026-01-01$85.58$58.38RVU26A
2025-10-01$84.85$66.68RVU25D
2025-07-01$84.85$66.68RVU25C
2025-04-01$84.85$66.68RVU25B
2025-01-01$84.85$66.68RVU25A
2024-10-01$86.79$68.42RVU24D
2024-07-01$86.79$68.42RVU24C
2024-04-01$86.79$68.42RVU24B
2024-03-09$86.79$68.42RVU24AR
2024-01-01$85.37$67.31RVU24A
2023-10-01$87.03$69.47RVU23D
2023-07-01$87.03$69.47RVU23C
2023-04-01$87.03$69.47RVU23B
2023-01-01$87.03$69.47RVU23A
2022-10-01$87.88$70.43RVU22D
2022-07-01$87.88$70.43RVU22C
2022-04-01$87.88$70.43RVU22B
2022-01-01$87.88$70.43RVU22A
2021-10-01$87.53$70.65RVU21D
2021-07-01$87.53$70.65RVU21C
2021-04-01$87.53$70.65RVU21B
2021-01-01$87.53$70.65RVU21A
2020-10-01$88.46$72.27RVU20D
2020-07-01$88.46$72.27RVU20C
2020-04-01$88.46$72.27RVU20B
2020-01-01$88.46$72.27RVU20A
2019-10-01$88.52$72.11RVU19D
2019-07-01$88.52$72.11RVU19C
2019-04-01$88.52$72.11RVU19B
2019-01-01$88.52$72.11RVU19A
2018-10-01$86.97$70.57RVU18D
2018-07-01$86.97$70.57RVU18C
2018-04-01$86.97$70.57RVU18B
2018-01-01$86.97$70.57RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$85.17$69.23RVU17D
2017-07-01$85.17$69.23RVU17C
2017-04-01$85.17$69.23RVU17B
2017-01-01$85.17$69.23RVU17A
2016-10-01$84.84$68.99RVU16D
2016-07-01$84.84$68.99RVU16C
2016-04-01$84.84$68.99RVU16B
2016-01-01$84.84$68.99RVU16A
2015-10-01$84.80$68.89RVU15D
2015-07-01$84.80$68.89RVU15C
2015-04-01$84.38$68.55RVU15B
2015-01-01$84.38$68.55RVU15A
2014-10-01$84.90$69.43RVU14D
2014-07-01$84.90$69.43RVU14C
2014-04-01$84.90$69.43RVU14B
2014-01-01$84.90$69.43RVU14A
2013-10-01$82.69$66.33RVU13D
2013-07-01$82.69$66.33RVU13C
2013-04-01$82.69$66.33RVU13B
2013-01-01$82.69$66.33RVU13AR

Price 95079 for an earlier date of service

Where the Houston, TX rate applies

Houston, TX is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 46 cities and communities in Texas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Texas

95079 billing questions

Can 95079 be billed without 95076?

No. Report 95079 only with the primary ingestion challenge code 95076.

How many units of 95079 should be reported?

Report a unit for each additional 60 minutes of ingestion challenge testing beyond the initial service. Document the additional testing time.

What documentation supports additional challenge time?

Document the items and incremental doses administered, patient monitoring and response, and the time spent in the additional challenge period.

Is 95079 used for an inhaled challenge?

No. It is for additional time in an oral ingestion challenge. Inhalation bronchial challenge testing is represented by a different service, such as 95070.

Does 95079 have a separate global period?

No separate period is described for this add-on. CMS specifies that it is paid within the primary procedure's global period.

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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 95079PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,471 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Houston, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 102 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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