Billing code 20974: Bone stimulationMedicare rate & RVUs
Report noninvasive electrical stimulation used to support bone healing, such as for a delayed fracture union or a spinal fusion site.
Medicare pays $95.19 for 20974 nationally in the office and $50.77 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $82.76–$125.77.
Medicare rate · 20974
Bone stimulation
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.6
- Total RVUs
- 2.85
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$95.19
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 20974 → · 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.
On this page 10 sections
What 20974 covers
This service involves applying electrical stimulation externally to support bone healing, without implanting an electrode. It is used in situations such as delayed fracture healing or to support a spinal fusion site. Orthopedic and spine practices commonly manage this therapy, with the stimulation delivered at the treatment site using an external device.
Report 20974 for noninvasive electrical stimulation, not an implanted stimulation approach or low-intensity ultrasound. Documentation should identify the bone or fusion site, the healing concern, and the noninvasive electrical service provided. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and 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 20974 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
$82.76 to $125.77
109 of 109 payment localities
20974 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.
$82.76
$112.77
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 | $107.35 | 1 |
| AL | $84.15 | 1 |
| AR | $82.76 | 1 |
| AZ | $92.26 | 1 |
| CA | $99.76–$125.77 | 29 |
| CO | $98.73 | 1 |
| CT | $102.09 | 1 |
| DC | $109.30 | 1 |
| DE | $93.92 | 1 |
| FL | $94.81–$106.23 | 3 |
| GA | $88.68–$97.44 | 2 |
| GU | $102.51 | 1 |
| HI | $102.51 | 1 |
| IA | $86.04 | 1 |
| ID | $86.79 | 1 |
| IL | $92.13–$102.60 | 4 |
| IN | $87.35 | 1 |
| KS | $85.84 | 1 |
| KY | $86.99 | 1 |
| LA | $86.94–$91.80 | 2 |
| MA | $98.13–$108.97 | 2 |
| MD | $95.79–$109.30 | 3 |
| ME | $87.59–$92.59 | 2 |
| MI | $89.81–$96.42 | 2 |
| MN | $93.45 | 1 |
| MO | $85.42–$91.85 | 3 |
| MS | $84.09 | 1 |
| MT | $95.18 | 1 |
| NC | $88.59 | 1 |
| ND | $92.02 | 1 |
| NE | $86.49 | 1 |
| NH | $97.39 | 1 |
| NJ | $102.93–$107.99 | 2 |
| NM | $90.47 | 1 |
| NV | $94.37 | 1 |
| NY | $90.11–$114.25 | 5 |
| OH | $89.16 | 1 |
| OK | $86.53 | 1 |
| OR | $93.33–$101.89 | 2 |
| PA | $89.17–$99.45 | 2 |
| PR | $95.88 | 1 |
| RI | $97.30 | 1 |
| SC | $89.09 | 1 |
| SD | $91.64 | 1 |
| TN | $86.37 | 1 |
| TX | $88.53–$98.67 | 8 |
| UT | $90.46 | 1 |
| VA | $92.43–$109.30 | 2 |
| VI | $95.88 | 1 |
| VT | $91.85 | 1 |
| WA | $97.88–$111.06 | 2 |
| WI | $88.56 | 1 |
| WV | $88.35 | 1 |
| WY | $93.80 | 1 |
How the 20974 rate is calculated
Each of 20974’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 · 20974
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.60Practice expense 2.09Malpractice 0.16
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 20974
The CMS indicators that decide how 20974 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 20974
Bone stimulation
| 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 | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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. |
20974 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
20974 vs 20975 vs 20979 vs 20999: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 20975Bone healing stimulation
- Choose 20974 for externally delivered electrical stimulation. Choose 20975 for an invasive electrical approach involving an implanted electrode.
- 20979Bone stimulation
- 20974 describes electrical stimulation to aid bone healing; 20979 describes low-intensity ultrasound stimulation.
- 20999Unlisted px muscskel general
- Use 20974 when the service is noninvasive electrical bone stimulation. Consider an unlisted code only when no specific code describes the service performed.
20974 billing questions
How does 20974 differ from 20975?
20974 describes noninvasive electrical stimulation delivered externally. Use 20975 when the electrical stimulation approach is invasive, with an implanted electrode.
Can 20974 be reported for ultrasound bone stimulation?
No. 20974 is for electrical stimulation; 20979 describes low-intensity ultrasound stimulation for bone healing.
Is modifier 50 appropriate when two sites are treated?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for 20974, so do not use modifier 50.
What documentation supports reporting 20974?
Record the bone or fusion site, the healing concern being addressed, and that the electrical stimulation was provided noninvasively.
Does 20974 have a global period?
It has a 0-day global period. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
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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