CPT code 97024: Diathermy, microwave or other diathermy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Tennessee

Reports diathermy used to deliver therapeutic deep heat, such as microwave energy, during rehabilitation for musculoskeletal pain or stiffness.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality11.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Tennessee, Medicare pays $6.74 for 97024 in the office.

$6.74Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
−8.3%vs the national office rate ($7.35)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 97024 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 97024 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Tennessee
  2. What 97024 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 97024 covers

Diathermy applies high-frequency electromagnetic energy to generate heat in targeted tissues. Physical therapists and other rehabilitation professionals may use microwave or another diathermy method as part of care for musculoskeletal pain, muscle spasm, or joint stiffness. Treatment is typically provided in an outpatient rehabilitation setting, with the applicator positioned for the area being treated.

Report 97024 when diathermy is the modality delivered, rather than infrared heat, ultrasound, or a surface hot pack. This is an untimed modality: report one unit for the service, not units accumulated in 15-minute increments. Documentation should identify the treated area, the diathermy modality, and the clinical purpose of treatment. The professional component modifier does not apply. Under the therapy multiple procedure payment reduction, practice expense is reduced for the second and later therapy units on the same day.

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 Tennessee compares for 97024

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 97024 runs from $6.48 in Arkansas to $9.63 in San Benito County, CA. Tennessee pays $6.74. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

97024 in Tennessee vs other payment areas
  1. Tennessee · this page$6.74
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$8.23+$1.49
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$8.39+$1.65
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$8.06+$1.32
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$7.82+$1.08
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$8.48+$1.74
  7. Alaska · Alaska$8.53+$1.79

Other areas in Tennessee first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

97024 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$6.58—
ArkansasArkansas$6.48—
ArizonaArizona$7.14—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$7.74—
Chico, CACalifornia$7.71—
El Centro, CACalifornia$7.71—
Fresno, CACalifornia$7.71—
Hanford, CACalifornia$7.71—

97024 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.

$6.48

$8.67

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

View every state and territory as a table
97024 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$8.531
AL$6.581
AR$6.481
AZ$7.141
CA$7.71–$9.6329
CO$7.621
CT$7.841
DC$8.391
DE$7.261
FL$7.30–$8.063
GA$6.87–$7.502
GU$7.891
HI$7.891
IA$6.721
ID$6.771
IL$7.10–$7.824
IN$6.811
KS$6.701
KY$6.761
LA$6.76–$7.102
MA$7.58–$8.372
MD$7.40–$8.393
ME$6.82–$7.182
MI$6.96–$7.402
MN$7.261
MO$6.65–$7.113
MS$6.561
MT$7.351
NC$6.891
ND$7.151
NE$6.751
NH$7.511
NJ$7.92–$8.302
NM$7.001
NV$7.301
NY$7.00–$8.715
OH$6.911
OK$6.741
OR$7.23–$7.852
PA$6.92–$7.652
PR$7.401
RI$7.521
SC$6.921
SD$7.131
TN$6.741
TX$6.87–$7.608
UT$7.011
VA$7.16–$8.392
VI$7.401
VT$7.131
WA$7.56–$8.522
WI$6.911
WV$6.841
WY$7.261

See 97024 in every payment locality

How the 97024 rate is calculated

Each of 97024’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 · 97024

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.06

0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.15

0.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.01

0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.2200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$7.35

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

The exact Tennessee inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

12,849

Code
97024
Physician work
0.06
Practice expense
0.15
Malpractice
0.01

GPCI2026.csv

95

Locality
Tennessee
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.909
Malpractice
0.537
Office calculation for 97024 in Tennessee
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.06× 1.0000.0600
Practice expense0.15× 0.9090.1363
Malpractice0.01× 0.5370.0054
Total RVUs0.2017
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Tennessee$6.74

Office: (0.06 × 1 + 0.15 × 0.909 + 0.01 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $6.74

Open 97024 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 97024

The CMS indicators that decide how 97024 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 97024

Diathermy, microwave or other diathermy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures5Therapy reduction: practice expense of the second and later units is reduced.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical7Therapy service: the split doesn’t apply.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier CQ · payment effect

With and without the modifier

97024 without CQ · national office

$7.35

Diathermy, microwave or other diathermy

97024-CQ · Allowed amount unchanged

$7.35

Medicare cuts its own payment by 15% after the patient’s 20% coinsurance; the allowed amount stays the same. On $100 allowed: $20 coinsurance, then Medicare pays $68 instead of $80.

How 97024 has changed in Tennessee

97024 · Office / nonfacility

$6.74

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.28 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $6.46 to $6.74 (4.3%).

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

    $6.46changed to$6.74

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.909
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.544 changed to 0.537

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $6.65changed to$6.46

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $6.54changed to$6.65

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $6.75changed to$6.54

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.894 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.544
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $6.57changed to$6.75

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.14 changed to 0.15
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.894
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.518

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $6.62changed to$6.57

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $6.56changed to$6.62

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.13 changed to 0.14
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.897 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.509 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $6.57changed to$6.56

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.901 changed to 0.897
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.526 changed to 0.509

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $6.57changed to$6.57

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$6.57

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$6.74Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$6.74Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$6.74Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$6.74Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$6.46Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$6.46Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$6.46Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$6.46Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$6.65Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$6.65Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$6.65Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$6.65Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$6.54Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$6.75Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$6.75Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$6.75Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$6.75Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$6.62Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$6.62Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$6.62Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$6.62Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$6.56Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$6.56Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$6.56Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$6.56Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$6.57Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableNot available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 97024 for an earlier date of service

Where the Tennessee rate applies

Tennessee is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 504 cities and communities in Tennessee. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Adams
  • Adamsville
  • Alamo
  • Alcoa
  • Alexandria
  • Algood
  • Allardt
  • Altamont

Browse all communities in Tennessee

97024 billing questions

How does 97024 differ from infrared therapy?

97024 is for diathermy, such as microwave energy used to produce therapeutic heat. Use 97026 when the modality delivered is infrared.

Is 97024 billed in 15-minute units?

No. It is an untimed modality, so report one unit for the service rather than counting 15-minute increments.

Can a professional component modifier be appended?

No. The CMS therapy-service rule specifies that the professional component modifier does not apply.

What documentation supports 97024?

Document the body area treated, that diathermy was delivered, and its clinical purpose, such as addressing musculoskeletal pain or stiffness.

How does the therapy multiple procedure payment reduction affect 97024?

When it is among the second or later therapy units on the same day, practice expense is reduced under the therapy multiple procedure payment reduction.

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 97024PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,849 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for TennesseeGPCI2026.csv, line 95 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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