Billing code 20950: Pressure monitoringMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports monitoring of interstitial fluid pressure, commonly used to assess suspected compartment syndrome in an injured or swollen extremity.
Medicare pays $278.23 for 20950 nationally in the office and $83.50 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $242.26–$380.91.
Medicare rate · 20950
Pressure monitoring
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 1.23
- Total RVUs
- 8.33
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$278.23
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
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Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 10 sections
What 20950 covers
This service measures pressure within tissue, such as muscle or subcutaneous tissue, using a pressure-monitoring method. It is commonly performed when acute swelling or injury raises concern for compartment syndrome, including after a fracture or crush injury. An orthopedic or trauma clinician may use the readings to assess pressure in the involved compartment and guide care in an emergency department, hospital, or procedural setting.
Report the service when the record identifies the clinical concern, monitored site or compartment, pressure findings, and the clinician’s interpretation or use of those findings. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant-at-surgery claim is paid only with documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery 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 20950 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
$242.26 to $380.91
109 of 109 payment localities
20950 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$242.26
$339.25
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 | $310.41 | 1 |
| AL | $246.32 | 1 |
| AR | $242.26 | 1 |
| AZ | $270.05 | 1 |
| CA | $297.58–$380.91 | 29 |
| CO | $291.82 | 1 |
| CT | $298.29 | 1 |
| DC | $322.18 | 1 |
| DE | $274.94 | 1 |
| FL | $271.81–$298.89 | 3 |
| GA | $254.82–$283.51 | 2 |
| GU | $306.62 | 1 |
| HI | $306.62 | 1 |
| IA | $254.27 | 1 |
| ID | $255.97 | 1 |
| IL | $262.37–$290.39 | 4 |
| IN | $257.68 | 1 |
| KS | $252.52 | 1 |
| KY | $252.10 | 1 |
| LA | $251.49–$265.67 | 2 |
| MA | $289.57–$323.69 | 2 |
| MD | $280.80–$322.18 | 3 |
| ME | $257.07–$273.45 | 2 |
| MI | $259.18–$275.23 | 2 |
| MN | $279.72 | 1 |
| MO | $246.33–$267.21 | 3 |
| MS | $244.37 | 1 |
| MT | $278.21 | 1 |
| NC | $260.18 | 1 |
| ND | $273.86 | 1 |
| NE | $255.96 | 1 |
| NH | $286.73 | 1 |
| NJ | $301.73–$318.09 | 2 |
| NM | $260.63 | 1 |
| NV | $277.23 | 1 |
| NY | $264.56–$330.59 | 5 |
| OH | $258.30 | 1 |
| OK | $252.00 | 1 |
| OR | $275.13–$302.51 | 2 |
| PA | $258.98–$289.81 | 2 |
| PR | $280.65 | 1 |
| RI | $285.80 | 1 |
| SC | $259.66 | 1 |
| SD | $273.35 | 1 |
| TN | $253.92 | 1 |
| TX | $257.03–$290.80 | 8 |
| UT | $263.69 | 1 |
| VA | $272.16–$322.18 | 2 |
| VI | $280.65 | 1 |
| VT | $272.30 | 1 |
| WA | $289.19–$331.10 | 2 |
| WI | $263.49 | 1 |
| WV | $251.29 | 1 |
| WY | $276.32 | 1 |
How the 20950 rate is calculated
Each of 20950’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 · 20950
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.23Practice expense 6.88Malpractice 0.22
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 20950
The CMS indicators that decide how 20950 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 20950
Pressure monitoring
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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
20950 without 51 · national office
$278.23
Pressure monitoring
20950-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$139.12
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%).
20950 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
20950 vs 27600 vs 27601 vs 27602 vs 28008: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27600Leg decompression
- 20950 monitors tissue pressure. 27600 describes release of the anterior and/or lateral leg compartments.
- 27601Leg fasciotomy
- 20950 monitors tissue pressure. 27601 describes release of posterior leg compartment(s).
- 27602Leg decompression
- 20950 reports pressure monitoring; 27602 reports release of anterior and/or lateral and posterior leg compartments.
- 28008Fascia release
- 20950 monitors interstitial pressure. 28008 describes fasciotomy of the foot and/or toe.
20950 billing questions
When is pressure monitoring reported instead of a fasciotomy code?
Report 20950 for monitoring tissue pressure; fasciotomy codes describe surgical release of a compartment. If both services occur, the record should distinguish the pressure assessment from the operative release.
What documentation supports 20950?
Document the clinical concern, the tissue site or compartment monitored, the pressure findings, and how the clinician used or interpreted them.
Can modifier 50 be used for monitoring both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?
For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
What care is included in the 0-day global period?
Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery is paid only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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
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