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CPT code 95971: Neurostimulator programming, simple spinal/peripheral nerve2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Report this service when an implanted spinal cord or peripheral nerve neurostimulator is analyzed and its settings receive simple programming adjustments.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality18.2K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $56.03 for 95971 in the office and $37.14 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$56.03Office (non-facility)
$37.14Hospital or facility
+11.1%vs the national office rate ($50.44)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 95971 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 95971 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 95971 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 95971 covers

Code 95971 describes analysis and simple programming of an implanted neurostimulator used for spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulation. A clinician managing the device uses a programmer to review its operation and make simple setting adjustments. Common settings include pain-management clinics and follow-up visits for patients with implanted spinal cord stimulators for chronic pain or peripheral nerve stimulators.

Choose this code when the device stimulates the spinal cord or a peripheral nerve and programming is performed. Use 95970 when the device is analyzed without programming, and 95972 when programming is complex. Documentation should identify the device and stimulation site, the findings reviewed, the settings changed, and the patient's response. Do not report a no-change device check as programming. The CMS fee schedule assigns work, practice-expense, and malpractice values, with different practice-expense values for office and facility settings.

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 Washington, DC area compares for 95971

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 95971 runs from $46.19 in Arkansas to $63.84 in Alaska. Washington, DC area pays $56.03. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

95971 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$56.03
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$54.75−$1.28
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$54.91−$1.12
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$53.76−$2.27
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$57.04+$1.01
  6. Alaska · Alaska$63.84+$7.81
  7. Alabama · Alabama$46.67−$9.36

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

95971 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$46.19$32.42
ArizonaArizona$49.42$33.88
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$52.13$34.56
Chico, CACalifornia$51.91$34.34
El Centro, CACalifornia$51.92$34.35
Fresno, CACalifornia$51.91$34.34
Hanford, CACalifornia$51.91$34.34
Madera, CACalifornia$51.91$34.34

95971 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

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

$46.19

$63.84

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

View every state and territory as a table
95971 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$63.841
AL$46.671
AR$46.191
AZ$49.421
CA$51.91–$61.9629
CO$51.651
CT$53.141
DC$56.031
DE$50.061
FL$50.64–$54.913
GA$48.50–$51.342
GU$52.471
HI$52.471
IA$47.151
ID$47.441
IL$49.83–$53.764
IN$47.621
KS$47.161
KY$47.791
LA$47.80–$49.452
MA$51.55–$55.522
MD$50.77–$56.033
ME$47.79–$49.372
MI$48.82–$51.272
MN$49.431
MO$47.33–$49.383
MS$46.761
MT$50.431
NC$48.111
ND$49.051
NE$47.281
NH$51.051
NJ$53.73–$55.762
NM$49.081
NV$50.071
NY$48.64–$58.275
OH$48.541
OK$47.561
OR$49.65–$52.702
PA$48.50–$52.262
PR$50.641
RI$51.411
SC$48.411
SD$48.881
TN$47.351
TX$48.29–$51.508
UT$48.871
VA$49.37–$56.032
VI$50.641
VT$49.061
WA$51.38–$56.312
WI$47.891
WV$48.561
WY$49.831

See 95971 in every payment locality

How the 95971 rate is calculated

Each of 95971’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 · 95971

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.78

0.78 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.66

0.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.5100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$50.44

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

12,726

Code
95971
Physician work
0.78
Practice expense
0.66
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 95971 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.78× 1.0540.8221
Practice expense0.66× 1.1780.7775
Malpractice0.07× 1.1130.0779
Total RVUs1.6775
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$56.03

Office: (0.78 × 1.054 + 0.66 × 1.178 + 0.07 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $56.03

Facility: (0.78 × 1.054 + 0.18 × 1.178 + 0.07 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $37.14

Open 95971 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 95971

95971 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

Place of service · 95971

Which rate does Medicare pay?

The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$50.44

Non-facility (office)
$50.44
Facility
$34.40

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

Codes related to 95971

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

Codes related to 95971
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
95970Neurostimulator analysis, without programmingDevice analysis without programming, contrasted with simple programming in 95971.$21.70
95972Stimulator programming, complex spinal or peripheral nerveComplex programming for spinal cord or peripheral nerve neurostimulators.$66.96
Used instead
95976Stimulator programming, cranial nerve, simpleSimple programming for an implanted cranial nerve neurostimulator rather than a spinal or peripheral nerve device.$41.78
95977Stimulator programming, cranial nerve, complexComplex programming for an implanted cranial nerve neurostimulator.$55.70

How 95971 has changed in Washington, DC area

95971 · Office / nonfacility

$56.03

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $4.35 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $51.68 to $56.03 (8.4%).

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

    $51.68changed to$56.03

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.59 changed to 0.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $53.58changed to$51.68

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $52.70changed to$53.58

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $54.28changed to$52.70

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.57 changed to 0.59
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $56.84changed to$54.28

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.58 changed to 0.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $56.84changed to$56.84

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 0.59 changed to 0.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $58.77changed to$56.84

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.58 changed to 0.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $58.18changed to$58.77

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.59 changed to 0.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $58.55changed to$58.18

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.60 changed to 0.59

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $57.61changed to$58.55

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 0.58 changed to 0.60
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $57.15changed to$57.61

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 0.57 changed to 0.58
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $65.99changed to$57.15

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 0.78 changed to 0.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $65.66changed to$65.99

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $68.96changed to$65.66

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.85 changed to 0.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $68.03changed to$68.96

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.92 changed to 0.85
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $68.03

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$56.03$37.14RVU26D
2026-07-01$56.03$37.14RVU26C
2026-04-01$56.03$37.14RVU26B
2026-01-01$56.03$37.14RVU26A
2025-10-01$51.68$40.89RVU25D
2025-07-01$51.68$40.89RVU25C
2025-04-01$51.68$40.89RVU25B
2025-01-01$51.68$40.89RVU25A
2024-10-01$53.58$42.07RVU24D
2024-07-01$53.58$42.07RVU24C
2024-04-01$53.58$42.07RVU24B
2024-03-09$53.58$42.07RVU24AR
2024-01-01$52.70$41.38RVU24A
2023-10-01$54.28$43.17RVU23D
2023-07-01$54.28$43.17RVU23C
2023-04-01$54.28$43.17RVU23B
2023-01-01$54.28$43.17RVU23A
2022-10-01$56.84$45.29RVU22D
2022-07-01$56.84$45.29RVU22C
2022-04-01$56.84$45.29RVU22B
2022-01-01$56.84$45.29RVU22A
2021-10-01$56.84$45.20RVU21D
2021-07-01$56.84$45.20RVU21C
2021-04-01$56.84$45.20RVU21B
2021-01-01$56.84$45.20RVU21A
2020-10-01$58.77$46.88RVU20D
2020-07-01$58.77$46.88RVU20C
2020-04-01$58.77$46.88RVU20B
2020-01-01$58.77$46.88RVU20A
2019-10-01$58.18$46.45RVU19D
2019-07-01$58.18$46.45RVU19C
2019-04-01$58.18$46.45RVU19B
2019-01-01$58.18$46.45RVU19A
2018-10-01$58.55$46.40RVU18D
2018-07-01$58.55$46.40RVU18C
2018-04-01$58.55$46.40RVU18B
2018-01-01$58.55$46.40RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$57.61$45.94RVU17D
2017-07-01$57.61$45.94RVU17C
2017-04-01$57.61$45.94RVU17B
2017-01-01$57.61$45.94RVU17A
2016-10-01$57.15$45.93RVU16D
2016-07-01$57.15$45.93RVU16C
2016-04-01$57.15$45.93RVU16B
2016-01-01$57.15$45.93RVU16A
2015-10-01$65.99$45.64RVU15D
2015-07-01$65.99$45.64RVU15C
2015-04-01$65.66$45.41RVU15B
2015-01-01$65.66$45.41RVU15A
2014-10-01$68.96$45.71RVU14D
2014-07-01$68.96$45.71RVU14C
2014-04-01$68.96$45.71RVU14B
2014-01-01$68.96$45.71RVU14A
2013-10-01$68.03$43.57RVU13D
2013-07-01$68.03$43.57RVU13C
2013-04-01$68.03$43.57RVU13B
2013-01-01$68.03$43.57RVU13AR

Price 95971 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

95971 billing questions

When should 95971 be used instead of 95970?

Use 95971 when simple programming adjustments are made to an implanted spinal cord or peripheral nerve neurostimulator. Use 95970 for device analysis without programming.

How is 95971 distinguished from 95972?

Both apply to spinal cord or peripheral nerve neurostimulators, but 95971 represents simple programming and 95972 represents complex programming. The record should support the level of programming performed.

Can 95970 be reported for the analysis during a 95971 service?

95971 includes analysis with programming. Do not separately report 95970 for the same device analysis performed as part of that programming service.

What documentation supports 95971?

Document the implanted device and stimulation site, the pre-adjustment assessment, the settings changed, and the patient's response. The note should support that programming was performed and was simple.

Does 95971 apply to an implanted vagus nerve stimulator?

No. For cranial nerve neurostimulator programming, the simple-programming code is 95976; 95971 is for spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulation.

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 95971PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,726 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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