CPT code 97605: Wound therapy, DME, 50 sq cm or less2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Houston, TX

Reports a DME-based negative-pressure wound therapy session for one or more wounds whose combined treated surface area is 50 square centimeters or less.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality38.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Houston, TX, Medicare pays $42.19 for 97605 in the office and $21.29 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$42.19Office (non-facility)
$21.29Hospital or facility
+0.2%vs the national office rate ($42.09)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 97605 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 97605 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Houston, TX
  2. What 97605 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 97605 covers

Code 97605 represents a session of negative-pressure wound therapy delivered with equipment that qualifies as durable medical equipment, when the combined surface area of treated wounds is 50 square centimeters or less. A sealed dressing connected to suction helps manage an open wound by drawing away fluid. Surgeons and wound-care clinicians commonly oversee this treatment in outpatient wound clinics and postoperative care. Dressing application, wound assessment, and patient or caregiver instruction for ongoing care are included.

Select the area tier using the combined surface area of wounds treated in the session, not the number of wounds; 97606 is used when the total exceeds 50 square centimeters. The equipment pathway also matters: use 97607 or 97608 for systems that do not require DME, applying the same area threshold. Document the treated wounds and their dimensions, equipment used, therapy provided, assessment, and instruction. CMS assigns work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, with separate office and facility practice-expense inputs in the fee schedule.

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 Houston, TX compares for 97605

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 97605 runs from $38.58 in Arkansas to $54.40 in San Benito County, CA. Houston, TX pays $42.19. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

97605 in Houston, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Houston, TX · this page$42.19
  2. Austin, TX · Texas$43.46+$1.27
  3. Beaumont, TX · Texas$39.93−$2.26
  4. Brazoria, TX · Texas$41.94−$0.25
  5. Dallas, TX · Texas$42.11−$0.08
  6. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$41.87−$0.32
  7. Galveston, TX · Texas$42.01−$0.18

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

Every other payment area

97605 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$40.84$20.87
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$47.05$22.16
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$47.32$22.53
Miami, FLFlorida$43.57$21.66
Chicago, ILIllinois$42.76$21.61
Manhattan, NYNew York$47.28$22.83
AlaskaAlaska$52.49$30.08
AlabamaAlabama$38.98$20.56

97605 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.

$38.58

$52.49

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

View every state and territory as a table
97605 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$52.491
AL$38.981
AR$38.581
AZ$41.301
CA$44.51–$54.4029
CO$43.751
CT$44.341
DC$47.321
DE$41.861
FL$41.21–$43.573
GA$39.59–$42.592
GU$45.191
HI$45.191
IA$39.871
ID$40.011
IL$40.21–$43.114
IN$40.181
KS$39.641
KY$39.421
LA$39.34–$40.732
MA$43.56–$47.392
MD$42.52–$47.323
ME$40.06–$41.752
MI$40.07–$41.482
MN$42.541
MO$38.80–$40.953
MS$38.701
MT$42.081
NC$40.381
ND$41.891
NE$40.051
NH$43.021
NJ$45.02–$47.042
NM$40.181
NV$42.051
NY$40.80–$48.015
OH$40.021
OK$39.471
OR$41.89–$44.922
PA$40.12–$43.452
PR$42.341
RI$43.171
SC$40.231
SD$41.861
TN$39.771
TX$39.93–$43.468
UT$40.631
VA$41.58–$47.322
VI$42.341
VT$41.681
WA$43.50–$48.312
WI$40.861
WV$39.121
WY$42.001

See 97605 in every payment locality

How the 97605 rate is calculated

Each of 97605’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 · 97605

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.54

0.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.71

0.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.01

0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.2600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$42.09

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

The exact Houston, TX inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

12,902

Code
97605
Physician work
0.54
Practice expense
0.71
Malpractice
0.01

GPCI2026.csv

102

Locality
Houston, TX
Physician work
1.008
Practice expense
0.993
Malpractice
1.376
Office calculation for 97605 in Houston, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.54× 1.0080.5443
Practice expense0.71× 0.9930.7050
Malpractice0.01× 1.3760.0138
Total RVUs1.2631
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Houston, TX$42.19

Office: (0.54 × 1.008 + 0.71 × 0.993 + 0.01 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $42.19

Facility: (0.54 × 1.008 + 0.08 × 0.993 + 0.01 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $21.29

Open 97605 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 97605

97605 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 · 97605

Which rate does Medicare pay?

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

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$42.09

Non-facility (office)
$42.09
Facility
$21.04

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

How 97605 has changed in Houston, TX

97605 · Office / nonfacility

$42.19

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.31 lower than on 2025-10-01, moving from $42.50 to $42.19 (0.7%).

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

    $42.50changed to$42.19

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.55 changed to 0.54
    • Practice expense RVU 0.74 changed to 0.71
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.003 changed to 0.993
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.376

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $43.41changed to$42.50

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 0.73 changed to 0.74

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $42.70changed to$43.41

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $43.90changed to$42.70

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.71 changed to 0.73
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.003
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.409
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $44.48changed to$43.90

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.68 changed to 0.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.02 changed to 0.01
    • Work GPCI 1.032 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.029 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.900 changed to 1.154

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $44.49changed to$44.48

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 0.67 changed to 0.68

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $45.69changed to$44.49

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.029
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.900

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $45.33changed to$45.69

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.936 changed to 0.918

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $45.64changed to$45.33

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.68 changed to 0.67

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $42.54changed to$45.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 0.60 changed to 0.68
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.946 changed to 0.936

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $42.00changed to$42.54

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 0.59 changed to 0.60
    • Work GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.009
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.955 changed to 0.946

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $44.56changed to$42.00

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.02

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $44.33changed to$44.56

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $43.17changed to$44.33

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.57 changed to 0.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.019
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.004 changed to 1.006
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.939 changed to 0.955

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $42.53changed to$43.17

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.62 changed to 0.57
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.002 changed to 1.004
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.923 changed to 0.939

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $42.53

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$42.19$21.29RVU26D
2026-07-01$42.19$21.29RVU26C
2026-04-01$42.19$21.29RVU26B
2026-01-01$42.19$21.29RVU26A
2025-10-01$42.50$24.01RVU25D
2025-07-01$42.50$24.01RVU25C
2025-04-01$42.50$24.01RVU25B
2025-01-01$42.50$24.01RVU25A
2024-10-01$43.41$24.38RVU24D
2024-07-01$43.41$24.38RVU24C
2024-04-01$43.41$24.38RVU24B
2024-03-09$43.41$24.38RVU24AR
2024-01-01$42.70$23.98RVU24A
2023-10-01$43.90$25.31RVU23D
2023-07-01$43.90$25.31RVU23C
2023-04-01$43.90$25.31RVU23B
2023-01-01$43.90$25.31RVU23A
2022-10-01$44.48$25.96RVU22D
2022-07-01$44.48$25.96RVU22C
2022-04-01$44.48$25.96RVU22B
2022-01-01$44.48$25.96RVU22A
2021-10-01$44.49$26.18RVU21D
2021-07-01$44.49$26.18RVU21C
2021-04-01$44.49$26.18RVU21B
2021-01-01$44.49$26.18RVU21A
2020-10-01$45.69$27.29RVU20D
2020-07-01$45.69$27.29RVU20C
2020-04-01$45.69$27.29RVU20B
2020-01-01$45.69$27.29RVU20A
2019-10-01$45.33$27.09RVU19D
2019-07-01$45.33$27.09RVU19C
2019-04-01$45.33$27.09RVU19B
2019-01-01$45.33$27.09RVU19A
2018-10-01$45.64$27.06RVU18D
2018-07-01$45.64$27.06RVU18C
2018-04-01$45.64$27.06RVU18B
2018-01-01$45.64$27.06RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$42.54$25.88RVU17D
2017-07-01$42.54$25.88RVU17C
2017-04-01$42.54$25.88RVU17B
2017-01-01$42.54$25.88RVU17A
2016-10-01$42.00$25.79RVU16D
2016-07-01$42.00$25.79RVU16C
2016-04-01$42.00$25.79RVU16B
2016-01-01$42.00$25.79RVU16A
2015-10-01$44.56$28.29RVU15D
2015-07-01$44.56$28.29RVU15C
2015-04-01$44.33$28.15RVU15B
2015-01-01$44.33$28.15RVU15A
2014-10-01$43.17$27.70RVU14D
2014-07-01$43.17$27.70RVU14C
2014-04-01$43.17$27.70RVU14B
2014-01-01$43.17$27.70RVU14A
2013-10-01$42.53$26.17RVU13D
2013-07-01$42.53$26.17RVU13C
2013-04-01$42.53$26.17RVU13B
2013-01-01$42.53$26.17RVU13AR

Price 97605 for an earlier date of service

Where the Houston, TX rate applies

Houston, TX is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 46 cities and communities in Texas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Texas

97605 billing questions

How is the wound-area threshold determined?

Use the combined surface area of the wounds treated during the session. This code is for a total of 50 square centimeters or less; 97606 is for a larger total.

When should 97607 be used instead?

Use 97607 when the negative-pressure system does not require DME and the combined treated wound area is 50 square centimeters or less. The corresponding higher-area code is 97608.

Can the dressing application or wound assessment be billed separately?

Dressing application, wound assessment, and instruction for ongoing care are included in this service. Do not report those included elements as separate wound-care services.

Is the code reported once for each wound?

The area threshold is based on the combined wounds treated in the session, not a separate threshold for each wound. Document the individual wounds and their dimensions to support the total.

How does this differ from 97602?

97605 describes negative-pressure therapy using DME. Code 97602 describes non-selective wound care, such as routine cleansing or dressing care, rather than this suction-based treatment.

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 97605PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,902 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Houston, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 102 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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