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CPT code 96105: Aphasia assessment, per hour2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Report 96105 for an hourly assessment of language impairment consistent with aphasia, including interpretation and a written report.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality1.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $107.14 for 96105 in the office.

$107.14Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
+10.2%vs the national office rate ($97.20)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 96105 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 96105 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 96105 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 96105 covers

A speech-language pathologist commonly performs this assessment when a patient has difficulty communicating after a stroke, brain injury, or another neurologic condition. The evaluation focuses on language abilities affected by aphasia, such as understanding or expressing spoken or written language. It may use structured tasks or standardized assessment tools, with results interpreted in the context of the patient’s communication needs.

Report 96105 for the assessment service on an hourly basis. Documentation should identify the language functions assessed, the methods or tools used, the findings, and the time spent on the assessment. Interpretation and the resulting report are part of this service, rather than separate 96105 units. CMS prices the code through the physician fee schedule; the code’s hourly basis and the documented service support its reporting.

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 96105

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 96105 runs from $91.16 in Arkansas to $128.08 in Alaska. Washington, DC area pays $107.14. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

96105 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$107.14
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$105.82−$1.32
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$101.27−$5.87
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$99.95−$7.19
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$107.92+$0.78
  6. Alaska · Alaska$128.08+$20.94
  7. Alabama · Alabama$91.84−$15.30

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

Every other payment area

96105 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$91.16—
ArizonaArizona$95.81—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$101.21—
Chico, CACalifornia$100.97—
El Centro, CACalifornia$100.98—
Fresno, CACalifornia$100.97—
Hanford, CACalifornia$100.97—
Madera, CACalifornia$100.97—

96105 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.

$91.16

$128.08

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

View every state and territory as a table
96105 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$128.081
AL$91.841
AR$91.161
AZ$95.811
CA$100.97–$119.2429
CO$99.911
CT$101.571
DC$107.141
DE$96.881
FL$96.41–$101.273
GA$93.51–$98.302
GU$101.571
HI$101.571
IA$93.041
ID$93.351
IL$94.91–$99.954
IN$93.631
KS$92.811
KY$92.941
LA$92.86–$95.242
MA$99.76–$106.602
MD$98.09–$107.143
ME$93.60–$96.252
MI$94.19–$97.042
MN$97.101
MO$92.04–$95.423
MS$91.611
MT$97.191
NC$94.111
ND$96.201
NE$93.301
NH$98.511
NJ$103.11–$106.922
NM$94.461
NV$96.951
NY$94.85–$109.385
OH$93.981
OK$92.861
OR$96.55–$101.822
PA$94.06–$100.092
PR$97.581
RI$99.351
SC$94.131
SD$96.091
TN$93.051
TX$93.74–$99.278
UT$94.801
VA$96.08–$107.142
VI$97.581
VT$96.001
WA$99.52–$108.232
WI$94.481
WV$93.061
WY$96.761

See 96105 in every payment locality

How the 96105 rate is calculated

Each of 96105’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 · 96105

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.75

1.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.11

1.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.05

0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.9100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$97.20

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

12,747

Code
96105
Physician work
1.75
Practice expense
1.11
Malpractice
0.05

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 96105 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.75× 1.0541.8445
Practice expense1.11× 1.1781.3076
Malpractice0.05× 1.1130.0557
Total RVUs3.2077
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$107.14

Office: (1.75 × 1.054 + 1.11 × 1.178 + 0.05 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $107.14

Open 96105 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 96105

96105 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 · 96105

Which rate does Medicare pay?

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

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$97.20

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

Codes related to 96105

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

Codes related to 96105
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
96125Cognitive testing, per qualified professional hourCognitive testing is a different service when the evaluation focuses on cognition rather than aphasia-related language.$114.06
96116Neurobehavioral exam, first hourNeurobehavioral status examination addresses broader neurologic cognitive and behavioral functioning.$103.12
92523Speech-language evaluation, speech plus language assessmentSpeech-language evaluation addresses speech sound production and language comprehension or expression.$250.84

How 96105 has changed in Washington, DC area

96105 · Office / nonfacility

$107.14

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $3.01 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $104.13 to $107.14 (2.9%).

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

    $104.13changed to$107.14

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 1.09 changed to 1.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05
    • 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

    $106.35changed to$104.13

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.06 changed to 1.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $104.62changed to$106.35

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $109.99changed to$104.62

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.05 changed to 1.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.07
    • 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

    $112.79changed to$109.99

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.04 changed to 1.05
    • 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

    $114.59changed to$112.79

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.06 changed to 1.04

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $118.43changed to$114.59

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.09 changed to 1.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • 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

    $118.63changed to$118.43

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.12 changed to 1.09
    • 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

    $123.24changed to$118.63

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.25 changed to 1.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.09

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $121.77changed to$123.24

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.22 changed to 1.25
    • 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

    $121.29changed to$121.77

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.20 changed to 1.22
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07
    • 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

    $117.37changed to$121.29

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.11 changed to 1.20
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $116.79changed to$117.37

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $112.76changed to$116.79

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.05 changed to 1.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.07
    • 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

    $103.94changed to$112.76

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.98 changed to 1.05
    • 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: $103.94

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$107.14Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$107.14Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$107.14Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$107.14Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$104.13Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$104.13Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$104.13Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$104.13Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$106.35Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$106.35Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$106.35Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$106.35Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$104.62Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$109.99Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$109.99Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$109.99Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$109.99Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$112.79Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$112.79Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$112.79Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$112.79Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$114.59Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$114.59Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$114.59Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$114.59Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$118.43Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$118.43Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$118.43Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$118.43Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$118.63Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$118.63Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$118.63Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$118.63Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$123.24Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$123.24Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$123.24Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$123.24Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$121.77Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$121.77Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$121.77Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$121.77Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$121.29Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$121.29Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$121.29Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$121.29Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$117.37Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$117.37Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$116.79Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$116.79Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$112.76Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$112.76Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$112.76Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$112.76Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$103.94Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$103.94Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$103.94Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$103.94Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 96105 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

96105 billing questions

When should I report 96105 instead of cognitive testing?

Use 96105 when the service assesses language impairment associated with aphasia. Cognitive testing under 96125 addresses cognitive abilities rather than an aphasia-focused language assessment.

Is interpretation and the report separately billable under 96105?

Interpretation and the report are included in the hourly aphasia assessment. They do not constitute separate 96105 services.

How should the assessment time be documented?

Record the time attributable to the aphasia assessment and describe the language functions evaluated, methods used, findings, and interpretation. Report the service on an hourly basis.

Can 96105 be reported for a general speech-language evaluation?

Use 96105 when the service is specifically an assessment of aphasia. A broader speech-language evaluation, such as one evaluating speech sound production and language comprehension or expression, may fit a different code.

Who typically performs the assessment?

A speech-language pathologist commonly performs an aphasia assessment, including for patients with communication changes following stroke or brain injury.

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 96105PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,747 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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