CPT code 95885: Needle EMG, limited, with nerve conduction2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $64.46 for 95885 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $56.86–$88.88.

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

What 95885 covers

This service involves a limited needle examination of muscles in an extremity performed alongside nerve conduction testing. Related paraspinal muscles may also be examined. Neurologists and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians commonly use it when evaluating symptoms such as weakness, numbness, or suspected nerve-root or peripheral nerve dysfunction. The physician samples and interprets the electrical activity of selected muscles as part of the electrodiagnostic evaluation.

Report 95885 for each extremity receiving a limited needle examination with related nerve conduction testing; use 95886 when the extremity examination is complete. The record should identify the extremity examined, muscles sampled, findings, and associated nerve conduction testing. CMS treats 95885 as an add-on: submit it with a primary procedure, and payment falls within that procedure's global period. Each side is paid separately when testing is bilateral. Modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and an unmodified claim 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 95885 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

95885 rates by state

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

How the 95885 rate is calculated

Each of 95885’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 95885

The CMS indicators that decide how 95885 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

95885 compared with similar codes

How to choose

95886Needle EMG add-onComplete study, each extremity

Both cover extremity needle EMG performed with nerve conduction testing. Choose 95885 for a limited examination and 95886 for a complete examination.

95887Needle EMGNon-extremity, with nerve conduction

95887 applies to needle EMG of non-extremity muscles performed with nerve conduction testing; 95885 applies to an extremity examination.

95860Needle EMGOne extremity

95860 reports needle EMG of one extremity, while 95885 is the limited extremity service reported with nerve conduction testing.

95907Nerve conductionOne or two studies

95907 reports nerve conduction testing, not needle EMG. It may be the primary procedure with which 95885 is reported as an add-on.

Codes related to 95885

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