Billing code 77770: HDR brachytherapyMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports one fraction of remote afterloading high-dose-rate brachytherapy for interstitial or intracavitary treatment using a single channel.
Medicare pays $349.37 for 77770 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $307.57–$478.79.
Medicare rate · 77770
HDR brachytherapy
- Work RVUs
- 1.9
- Total RVUs
- 10.46
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$349.37
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 77770 →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 77770 covers
A radiation oncologist uses a remote afterloader to send a radioactive source through an applicator or catheter into an interstitial or intracavitary treatment site. This code represents the single-channel service for one fraction; examples of treatment sites include gynecologic cavities and implanted interstitial catheters. The provider manages delivery of the planned HDR treatment fraction. Services are commonly furnished in a hospital radiation oncology department or an outpatient radiation treatment center.
Select this code when the fraction uses one channel, rather than the channel counts represented by 77771 or 77772. The record should support the treatment site, fraction delivered, remote afterloading method, and number of channels used. Report the global service without a component modifier, or report modifier 26 for the professional component and TC for the technical component when billing them separately. CMS lists both components as separately priced.
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 77770 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
$307.57 to $478.79
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $312.29 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $397.46 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $340.02 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $307.57 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $354.94 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $365.34 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $375.91 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $371.97 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $323.72 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $346.39 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $356.85 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $367.20 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $373.24 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $348.20 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $403.41 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $345.87 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $342.50 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $331.25 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $375.49 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $356.54 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $345.44 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $347.16 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $386.12 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $349.54 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $324.56 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $326.59 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $322.82 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $320.19 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $317.75 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $402.04 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $401.59 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $406.12 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $332.10 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $362.90 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $335.87 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $367.56 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $354.48 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $309.10 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $349.36 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $440.77 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $324.99 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $348.93 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $360.38 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $326.88 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $333.35 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $328.94 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $346.79 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $398.72 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $410.37 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $324.91 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $318.28 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $400.76 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $380.53 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $379.89 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $352.41 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $406.60 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $339.17 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $319.80 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $327.32 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $316.81 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $325.21 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $353.03 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $364.43 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $325.44 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $310.40 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $378.24 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $334.01 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $346.96 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $326.05 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $334.59 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $364.08 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $359.40 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $376.91 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $395.54 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $394.10 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $404.48 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $468.50 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $468.35 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $478.79 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $478.19 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $387.58 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $409.23 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $395.88 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $413.46 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $415.67 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $327.32 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $346.49 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $345.24 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $360.77 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $321.74 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $332.04 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $440.56 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $344.41 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $352.41 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $343.31 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $375.47 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $314.36 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $334.54 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $348.24 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $375.47 | Unavailable |
77770 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.
$307.57
$427.13
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 | $397.46 | 1 |
| AL | $312.29 | 1 |
| AR | $307.57 | 1 |
| AZ | $340.02 | 1 |
| CA | $375.47–$478.79 | 29 |
| CO | $367.20 | 1 |
| CT | $373.24 | 1 |
| DC | $403.41 | 1 |
| DE | $345.87 | 1 |
| FL | $339.17–$367.56 | 3 |
| GA | $319.80–$354.94 | 2 |
| GU | $386.12 | 1 |
| HI | $386.12 | 1 |
| IA | $322.82 | 1 |
| ID | $324.56 | 1 |
| IL | $327.32–$360.77 | 4 |
| IN | $326.59 | 1 |
| KS | $320.19 | 1 |
| KY | $317.75 | 1 |
| LA | $316.81–$333.35 | 2 |
| MA | $364.43–$406.12 | 2 |
| MD | $353.03–$403.41 | 3 |
| ME | $325.21–$345.24 | 2 |
| MI | $325.44–$342.50 | 2 |
| MN | $354.48 | 1 |
| MO | $310.40–$335.87 | 3 |
| MS | $309.10 | 1 |
| MT | $349.36 | 1 |
| NC | $328.94 | 1 |
| ND | $346.79 | 1 |
| NE | $324.99 | 1 |
| NH | $360.38 | 1 |
| NJ | $378.24–$398.72 | 2 |
| NM | $326.88 | 1 |
| NV | $348.93 | 1 |
| NY | $334.01–$410.37 | 5 |
| OH | $324.91 | 1 |
| OK | $318.28 | 1 |
| OR | $346.96–$380.53 | 2 |
| PA | $326.05–$362.90 | 2 |
| PR | $352.41 | 1 |
| RI | $359.40 | 1 |
| SC | $327.32 | 1 |
| SD | $346.49 | 1 |
| TN | $321.74 | 1 |
| TX | $323.72–$365.34 | 8 |
| UT | $332.04 | 1 |
| VA | $343.31–$403.41 | 2 |
| VI | $352.41 | 1 |
| VT | $344.41 | 1 |
| WA | $364.08–$415.67 | 2 |
| WI | $334.54 | 1 |
| WV | $314.36 | 1 |
| WY | $348.24 | 1 |
How the 77770 rate is calculated
Each of 77770’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 · 77770
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.90
1.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.43
8.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.13
0.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
10.4600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$349.37
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 77770
The CMS indicators that decide how 77770 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 77770
HDR brachytherapy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
77770 without 26 · national office
$349.37
HDR brachytherapy
77770-26 · Professional component
$101.87
Pays only the interpretation and report.
77770 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 77771HDR brachytherapy
- Use 77770 for a single channel. Use 77771 when the fraction uses 2–12 channels.
- 77772HDR brachytherapy
- Use 77772 when the fraction uses more than 12 channels; 77770 is the single-channel level.
- 77767Skin brachytherapy
- 77767 is for HDR brachytherapy directed to a skin surface. 77770 is for interstitial or intracavitary treatment.
- 77761Intracavitary brachytherapy
- 77761 represents simple intracavitary radiation application. 77770 represents one-channel remote afterloading HDR treatment per fraction.
77770 billing questions
How does 77770 differ from 77771 and 77772?
77770 represents a single channel per fraction. The sibling codes represent higher channel-count levels: 77771 for 2–12 channels and 77772 for more than 12.
Is 77770 reported per treatment course or per fraction?
It is reported for each qualifying treatment fraction, not once for the entire course. Documentation should identify the fraction delivered and channel count.
Which modifiers identify the professional and technical components?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional component, and modifier TC identifies the technical component. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports choosing the single-channel level?
The treatment record should show remote afterloading HDR delivery and that one channel was used for the fraction. The treatment site and fraction should also be identifiable.
Is 77770 the code for surface HDR brachytherapy?
No. 77770 is for interstitial or intracavitary HDR treatment. Codes 77767 and 77768 describe HDR treatment of a skin surface.
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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