CPT code 99304: Nursing facility care, initial, straightforward or low complexity2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Houston, TX

Report this initial nursing facility evaluation when the documented medical decision making is straightforward or low complexity, or the service meets the 25-minute time threshold.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality342.1K Medicare services in 2024

In Houston, TX, Medicare pays $82.50 for 99304 in the office and $72.55 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$82.50Office (non-facility)
$72.55Hospital or facility
+1.7%vs the national office rate ($81.16)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 99304 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 99304 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Houston, TX
  2. What 99304 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 99304 covers

Code 99304 describes an initial evaluation and management service for a patient in a nursing facility, such as a skilled nursing facility or nursing home. A physician or other qualified health care professional assesses the patient’s condition and needs in that setting and establishes or updates the care plan. The patient may be new or established to the practitioner; the relevant distinction is that the service is initial nursing facility care, not a later follow-up visit.

Select this level when medical decision making is straightforward or low complexity, or when the practitioner’s total time on the date of service meets or exceeds 25 minutes. Document the medically appropriate history and examination, the problems addressed, the data reviewed or analyzed, and the management decisions; when selecting by time, document the qualifying time. CMS assigns work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, with separate 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 Houston, TX compares for 99304

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 99304 runs from $75.75 in Arkansas to $106.69 in Alaska. Houston, TX pays $82.50. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

99304 in Houston, TX vs other payment areas
  1. Houston, TX · this page$82.50
  2. Austin, TX · Texas$82.55+$0.05
  3. Beaumont, TX · Texas$78.43−$4.07
  4. Brazoria, TX · Texas$80.65−$1.85
  5. Dallas, TX · Texas$81.08−$1.42
  6. Fort Worth, TX · Texas$80.83−$1.67
  7. Galveston, TX · Texas$80.85−$1.65

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

Every other payment area

99304 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Rest of TexasTexas$79.44$69.93
Los Angeles, CACalifornia$87.34$75.49
Washington, DC areaDistrict of Columbia$89.20$77.40
Miami, FLFlorida$86.91$76.48
Chicago, ILIllinois$85.55$75.48
Manhattan, NYNew York$90.68$79.03
AlaskaAlaska$106.69$96.02
AlabamaAlabama$76.35$67.58

99304 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.

$75.75

$106.69

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

View every state and territory as a table
99304 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$106.691
AL$76.351
AR$75.751
AZ$79.861
CA$83.31–$97.6829
CO$82.901
CT$84.961
DC$89.201
DE$80.771
FL$81.44–$86.913
GA$78.71–$82.372
GU$83.741
HI$83.741
IA$76.971
ID$77.341
IL$80.42–$85.554
IN$77.571
KS$76.981
KY$77.791
LA$77.81–$79.922
MA$82.84–$88.332
MD$81.76–$89.203
ME$77.78–$79.802
MI$79.11–$82.242
MN$79.861
MO$77.21–$79.823
MS$76.481
MT$81.161
NC$78.201
ND$79.381
NE$77.131
NH$81.941
NJ$86.04–$89.012
NM$79.441
NV$80.691
NY$78.87–$92.255
OH$78.751
OK$77.491
OR$80.16–$84.312
PA$78.70–$83.802
PR$81.431
RI$82.721
SC$78.581
SD$79.171
TN$77.221
TX$78.43–$82.558
UT$79.171
VA$79.80–$89.202
VI$81.431
VT$79.401
WA$82.58–$89.492
WI$77.911
WV$78.781
WY$80.381

See 99304 in every payment locality

How the 99304 rate is calculated

Each of 99304’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 · 99304

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.50

1.50 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.84

0.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.09

0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.4300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$81.16

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

13,045

Code
99304
Physician work
1.50
Practice expense
0.84
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

102

Locality
Houston, TX
Physician work
1.008
Practice expense
0.993
Malpractice
1.376
Office calculation for 99304 in Houston, TX
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.50× 1.0081.5120
Practice expense0.84× 0.9930.8341
Malpractice0.09× 1.3760.1238
Total RVUs2.4700
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Houston, TX$82.50

Office: (1.5 × 1.008 + 0.84 × 0.993 + 0.09 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $82.50

Facility: (1.5 × 1.008 + 0.54 × 0.993 + 0.09 × 1.376) × $33.4009 = $72.55

Open 99304 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 99304

99304 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 · 99304

Which rate does Medicare pay?

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

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$81.16

Non-facility (office)
$81.16
Facility
$71.14

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

How 99304 has changed in Houston, TX

99304 · Office / nonfacility

$82.50

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.53 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $79.97 to $82.50 (3.2%).

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

    $79.97changed to$82.50

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.78 changed to 0.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.09
    • 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

    $81.83changed to$79.97

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $80.50changed to$81.83

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $82.81changed to$80.50

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.77 changed to 0.78
    • 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

    $91.20changed to$82.81

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Work RVU 1.64 changed to 1.50
    • Practice expense RVU 0.82 changed to 0.77
    • 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

    $91.95changed to$91.20

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $93.82changed to$91.95

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.80 changed to 0.82
    • 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

    $92.78changed to$93.82

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.78 changed to 0.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • 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

    $94.16changed to$92.78

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.83 changed to 0.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $93.82changed to$94.16

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • 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

    $93.49changed to$93.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • 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

    $93.83changed to$93.49

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $93.36changed to$93.83

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $94.16changed to$93.36

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.84 changed to 0.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.11
    • 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

    $91.72changed to$94.16

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.91 changed to 0.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.13
    • 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: $91.72

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$82.50$72.55RVU26D
2026-07-01$82.50$72.55RVU26C
2026-04-01$82.50$72.55RVU26B
2026-01-01$82.50$72.55RVU26A
2025-10-01$79.97$79.97RVU25D
2025-07-01$79.97$79.97RVU25C
2025-04-01$79.97$79.97RVU25B
2025-01-01$79.97$79.97RVU25A
2024-10-01$81.83$81.83RVU24D
2024-07-01$81.83$81.83RVU24C
2024-04-01$81.83$81.83RVU24B
2024-03-09$81.83$81.83RVU24AR
2024-01-01$80.50$80.50RVU24A
2023-10-01$82.81$82.81RVU23D
2023-07-01$82.81$82.81RVU23C
2023-04-01$82.81$82.81RVU23B
2023-01-01$82.81$82.81RVU23A
2022-10-01$91.20$91.20RVU22D
2022-07-01$91.20$91.20RVU22C
2022-04-01$91.20$91.20RVU22B
2022-01-01$91.20$91.20RVU22A
2021-10-01$91.95$91.95RVU21D
2021-07-01$91.95$91.95RVU21C
2021-04-01$91.95$91.95RVU21B
2021-01-01$91.95$91.95RVU21A
2020-10-01$93.82$93.82RVU20D
2020-07-01$93.82$93.82RVU20C
2020-04-01$93.82$93.82RVU20B
2020-01-01$93.82$93.82RVU20A
2019-10-01$92.78$92.78RVU19D
2019-07-01$92.78$92.78RVU19C
2019-04-01$92.78$92.78RVU19B
2019-01-01$92.78$92.78RVU19A
2018-10-01$94.16$94.16RVU18D
2018-07-01$94.16$94.16RVU18C
2018-04-01$94.16$94.16RVU18B
2018-01-01$94.16$94.16RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$93.82$93.82RVU17D
2017-07-01$93.82$93.82RVU17C
2017-04-01$93.82$93.82RVU17B
2017-01-01$93.82$93.82RVU17A
2016-10-01$93.49$93.49RVU16D
2016-07-01$93.49$93.49RVU16C
2016-04-01$93.49$93.49RVU16B
2016-01-01$93.49$93.49RVU16A
2015-10-01$93.83$93.83RVU15D
2015-07-01$93.83$93.83RVU15C
2015-04-01$93.36$93.36RVU15B
2015-01-01$93.36$93.36RVU15A
2014-10-01$94.16$94.16RVU14D
2014-07-01$94.16$94.16RVU14C
2014-04-01$94.16$94.16RVU14B
2014-01-01$94.16$94.16RVU14A
2013-10-01$91.72$91.72RVU13D
2013-07-01$91.72$91.72RVU13C
2013-04-01$91.72$91.72RVU13B
2013-01-01$91.72$91.72RVU13AR

Price 99304 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

99304 billing questions

When should 99304 be chosen over 99305?

Use 99304 for an initial nursing facility service when medical decision making is straightforward or low complexity, or when selecting by time at the 25-minute threshold. Use 99305 when the documented medical decision making is moderate complexity or the applicable time threshold is met.

Does the patient have to be new to the practitioner?

No. The code is for initial nursing facility care and is not determined by whether the patient has previously seen that practitioner.

Can the level be selected by time?

Yes. The practitioner’s total time on the date of service must meet or exceed 25 minutes. Document the qualifying time and the work performed.

How does 99304 differ from a subsequent nursing facility visit?

99304 represents initial nursing facility care. For a later follow-up service in the facility, select the applicable subsequent nursing facility care level, such as 99307 or 99308.

What documentation supports 99304?

Document the clinical issues evaluated, the medically appropriate history and examination, and the reasoning behind the straightforward or low-complexity decisions. If selecting by time, document the total qualifying time on the date of service.

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 99304PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 13,045 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Houston, TXGPCI2026.csv, line 102 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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