CPT code 96922: Excimer laser, more than 500 sq cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Report this code for excimer laser treatment of psoriasis when the total treated skin area exceeds 500 square centimeters during the session.
Medicare pays $176.02 for 96922 nationally in the office and $75.15 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $155.90–$239.89.
Medicare rate · 96922
Excimer laser, more than 500 sq cm
- Work RVUs
- 1.12
- Total RVUs
- 5.27
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$176.02
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 96922 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 10 sections
What 96922 covers
A dermatologist uses targeted excimer laser energy to treat psoriasis plaques. This code identifies treatment when the total skin area treated is greater than 500 square centimeters. The service is typically performed in an office setting for patients receiving laser treatment of psoriasis lesions; the treated area, rather than the number of plaques, determines the code tier.
Select the tier from the documented total area treated and retain a record supporting that measurement. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.
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 96922 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$155.90 to $239.89
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $158.18 | $69.92 |
| Alaska | $202.88 | $95.45 |
| Arizona | $171.54 | $73.79 |
| Arkansas | $155.90 | $69.26 |
| Atlanta, GA | $178.66 | $76.18 |
| Austin, TX | $183.85 | $77.13 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $189.23 | $78.67 |
| Baltimore area, MD | $187.01 | $78.78 |
| Beaumont, TX | $163.58 | $71.79 |
| Brazoria, TX | $174.72 | $74.76 |
| Chicago, IL | $179.13 | $77.76 |
| Chico, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Colorado | $184.87 | $77.54 |
| Connecticut | $187.67 | $79.03 |
| Dallas, TX | $175.57 | $75.11 |
| Delaware | $174.40 | $74.74 |
| Detroit, MI | $172.38 | $75.04 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $166.76 | $73.96 |
| El Centro, CA | $189.04 | $78.48 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $179.15 | $76.97 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $174.23 | $74.77 |
| Fresno, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Galveston, TX | $175.08 | $74.91 |
| Hanford, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $194.08 | $79.39 |
| Houston, TX | $175.99 | $75.83 |
| Idaho | $164.19 | $71.39 |
| Indiana | $165.17 | $71.66 |
| Iowa | $163.38 | $71.08 |
| Kansas | $162.05 | $70.86 |
| Kentucky | $160.68 | $71.01 |
| King County, WA | $208.67 | $84.91 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $202.06 | $82.73 |
| Madera, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Manhattan, NY | $201.58 | $84.37 |
| Marin County, CA | $234.82 | $92.59 |
| Merced, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $203.94 | $83.50 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $167.63 | $72.91 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $182.63 | $77.63 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $169.45 | $73.42 |
| Miami, FL | $184.19 | $79.18 |
| Minnesota | $178.82 | $75.02 |
| Mississippi | $156.55 | $69.70 |
| Modesto, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Montana | $176.02 | $75.15 |
| Napa, CA | $221.11 | $88.16 |
| Nebraska | $164.44 | $71.34 |
| Nevada | $175.88 | $74.91 |
| New Hampshire | $181.43 | $76.42 |
| New Mexico | $164.99 | $72.49 |
| New Orleans, LA | $168.17 | $73.25 |
| North Carolina | $166.24 | $72.13 |
| North Dakota | $175.03 | $74.16 |
| Northern New Jersey | $200.40 | $83.39 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $205.73 | $85.80 |
| Ohio | $164.12 | $72.03 |
| Oklahoma | $161.00 | $70.92 |
| Oxnard, CA | $201.36 | $82.14 |
| Portland, OR | $191.39 | $79.33 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $191.07 | $80.61 |
| Puerto Rico | $177.50 | $75.52 |
| Queens, NY | $204.08 | $84.85 |
| Redding, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Rest of California | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Rest of Florida | $170.84 | $74.40 |
| Rest of Georgia | $161.55 | $71.58 |
| Rest of Illinois | $165.05 | $72.95 |
| Rest of Louisiana | $160.20 | $70.93 |
| Rest of Maine | $164.44 | $71.63 |
| Rest of Maryland | $177.90 | $75.82 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $183.54 | $77.32 |
| Rest of Michigan | $164.32 | $72.23 |
| Rest of Missouri | $157.08 | $70.13 |
| Rest of New Jersey | $190.28 | $80.13 |
| Rest of New York | $168.68 | $72.85 |
| Rest of Oregon | $174.98 | $74.51 |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $164.70 | $72.10 |
| Rest of Texas | $168.88 | $73.15 |
| Rest of Washington | $183.37 | $77.15 |
| Rhode Island | $181.07 | $76.87 |
| Riverside, CA | $189.60 | $79.04 |
| Sacramento, CA | $198.92 | $81.60 |
| Salinas, CA | $198.18 | $81.27 |
| San Benito County, CA | $239.89 | $94.44 |
| San Diego, CA | $203.22 | $82.58 |
| San Francisco, CA | $234.76 | $92.54 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $194.92 | $80.03 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $239.66 | $94.20 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $205.48 | $82.92 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $199.03 | $81.41 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $207.59 | $83.72 |
| South Carolina | $165.36 | $72.16 |
| South Dakota | $174.91 | $74.04 |
| Southern Maine, ME | $174.17 | $74.21 |
| Stockton, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $181.27 | $77.68 |
| Tennessee | $162.79 | $71.10 |
| Utah | $167.64 | $72.82 |
| Vallejo, CA | $221.02 | $88.08 |
| Vermont | $173.83 | $73.97 |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $177.50 | $75.52 |
| Virginia | $173.20 | $74.05 |
| Visalia, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
| Washington, DC area | $202.61 | $83.78 |
| West Virginia | $158.80 | $71.15 |
| Wisconsin | $169.12 | $72.48 |
| Wyoming | $175.59 | $74.72 |
| Yuba City, CA | $189.03 | $78.48 |
96922 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$155.90
$214.46
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $202.88 | 1 |
| AL | $158.18 | 1 |
| AR | $155.90 | 1 |
| AZ | $171.54 | 1 |
| CA | $189.03–$239.89 | 29 |
| CO | $184.87 | 1 |
| CT | $187.67 | 1 |
| DC | $202.61 | 1 |
| DE | $174.40 | 1 |
| FL | $170.84–$184.19 | 3 |
| GA | $161.55–$178.66 | 2 |
| GU | $194.08 | 1 |
| HI | $194.08 | 1 |
| IA | $163.38 | 1 |
| ID | $164.19 | 1 |
| IL | $165.05–$181.27 | 4 |
| IN | $165.17 | 1 |
| KS | $162.05 | 1 |
| KY | $160.68 | 1 |
| LA | $160.20–$168.17 | 2 |
| MA | $183.54–$203.94 | 2 |
| MD | $177.90–$202.61 | 3 |
| ME | $164.44–$174.17 | 2 |
| MI | $164.32–$172.38 | 2 |
| MN | $178.82 | 1 |
| MO | $157.08–$169.45 | 3 |
| MS | $156.55 | 1 |
| MT | $176.02 | 1 |
| NC | $166.24 | 1 |
| ND | $175.03 | 1 |
| NE | $164.44 | 1 |
| NH | $181.43 | 1 |
| NJ | $190.28–$200.40 | 2 |
| NM | $164.99 | 1 |
| NV | $175.88 | 1 |
| NY | $168.68–$205.73 | 5 |
| OH | $164.12 | 1 |
| OK | $161.00 | 1 |
| OR | $174.98–$191.39 | 2 |
| PA | $164.70–$182.63 | 2 |
| PR | $177.50 | 1 |
| RI | $181.07 | 1 |
| SC | $165.36 | 1 |
| SD | $174.91 | 1 |
| TN | $162.79 | 1 |
| TX | $163.58–$183.85 | 8 |
| UT | $167.64 | 1 |
| VA | $173.20–$202.61 | 2 |
| VI | $177.50 | 1 |
| VT | $173.83 | 1 |
| WA | $183.37–$208.67 | 2 |
| WI | $169.12 | 1 |
| WV | $158.80 | 1 |
| WY | $175.59 | 1 |
How the 96922 rate is calculated
Each of 96922’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 · 96922
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.12
1.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.10
4.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.05
0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.2700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$176.02
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 96922
The CMS indicators that decide how 96922 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 96922
Excimer laser, more than 500 sq cm
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
96922 without 51 · national office
$176.02
Excimer laser, more than 500 sq cm
96922-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$88.01
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
96922 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 96920Excimer laserUnder 250 sq cm
- Use 96920 when the total area treated for psoriasis is under 250 square centimeters; 96922 is for an area greater than 500 square centimeters.
- 96921Excimer laser250–500 square centimeters
- Use 96921 for a total treated area of 250 to 500 square centimeters. 96922 applies when the total treated area exceeds 500 square centimeters.
- 96910PhototherapyTar or petrolatum with UVB
- 96910 describes tar-and-UVB photochemotherapy, not targeted excimer laser treatment. The excimer code tier is selected by the total psoriasis area treated.
- 96912PUVA therapyPsoralen plus UVA
- 96912 is PUVA photochemotherapy; 96922 is targeted excimer laser treatment for psoriasis involving more than 500 square centimeters.
96922 billing questions
How is 96922 distinguished from 96920 and 96921?
Choose among these codes by the total skin area treated for psoriasis: 96922 is for more than 500 square centimeters. The number of plaques alone does not determine the tier.
What area should the documentation support?
Document the total skin area treated during the session and enough detail to support that measurement. The code tier is based on treated area, not lesion count.
Does modifier 50 apply when treatment covers both sides of the body?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; report the applicable area tier rather than appending modifier 50.
How are same-session procedures affected by the multiple-procedure rule?
When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
Is same-day preoperative or postoperative care separately included?
The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
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
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