CPT code 95867: Needle EMG, cranial nerve muscles, one side2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $107.22 for 95867 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $95.27–$144.86.

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

What 95867 covers

This study uses a fine needle electrode to record electrical activity in muscles supplied by cranial nerves on one side of the body. A neurologist or physiatrist commonly performs it to assess problems such as facial weakness or suspected cranial motor nerve dysfunction. The clinician samples appropriate muscles and evaluates their activity at rest and during voluntary contraction, then interprets the findings in the clinical context. It may be performed in an office or hospital setting.

Choose this code when the study evaluates cranial nerve-innervated muscles on one side; documentation should identify the side, muscles examined, clinical indication, findings, and interpretation. For bilateral cranial nerve muscle testing, use the bilateral code rather than reporting this unilateral service twice. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the combined 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 95867 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

95867 rates by state

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

How the 95867 rate is calculated

Each of 95867’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 95867

The CMS indicators that decide how 95867 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

95867 compared with similar codes

How to choose

95868Needle EMGBilateral cranial nerve muscles

95868 is for cranial nerve-innervated muscles on both sides. This code is for one side.

95865Laryngeal EMGNeedle study

95865 identifies needle EMG focused on laryngeal muscles. Use 95867 for other cranial nerve-innervated muscles tested unilaterally.

95870Needle EMGLimited muscle study

95870 describes a limited needle EMG study. Choose 95867 when the study is specifically of cranial nerve-innervated muscles on one side.

95885Needle EMGLimited, with nerve conduction

95885 describes limited extremity muscle testing performed with nerve conduction testing. It is not the code for unilateral cranial nerve muscle EMG.

Codes related to 95867

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