Billing code 92537: Caloric testMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports bilateral caloric vestibular testing with recorded eye movements to assess vestibular function, commonly during evaluation of dizziness or imbalance.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities53.2K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $39.41 for 92537 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $36.40–$50.20.

Medicare rate · 92537

Caloric test

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0.59
Total RVUs
1.18
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$39.41

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 92537 → · 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
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 92537 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 92537 covers

This test stimulates the vestibular system by irrigating the ears with warm and cool water or air, then recording the resulting eye movements, including nystagmus. Audiologists and otolaryngology or neurotology clinicians commonly perform it in an audiology or vestibular testing laboratory when evaluating dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance. The recorded responses help assess vestibular function and compare responses to the different stimuli.

Choose this code when the caloric test is performed with recording; 92538 is the counterpart for testing without recording. Documentation should identify the test performed and support that eye movements were recorded, with findings and interpretation in the record. The code is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. Report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation or TC for the technical service; without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

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 92537 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

$36.40 to $50.20

$36.40$43.30$50.20
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

92537 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$36.74Unavailable
Alaska*$50.20Unavailable
Arizona$38.73Unavailable
Arkansas$36.40Unavailable
Atlanta$39.91Unavailable
Austin$40.48Unavailable
Bakersfield$41.35Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$41.28Unavailable
Beaumont$37.65Unavailable
Brazoria$39.25Unavailable

92537 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.

$36.40

$50.20

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

View every state and territory as a table
92537 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$50.201
AL$36.741
AR$36.401
AZ$38.731
CA$41.27–$49.6929
CO$40.721
CT$41.411
DC$43.941
DE$39.221
FL$38.91–$41.223
GA$37.49–$39.912
GU$41.741
HI$41.741
IA$37.391
ID$37.541
IL$38.13–$40.584
IN$37.681
KS$37.251
KY$37.241
LA$37.20–$38.382
MA$40.60–$43.842
MD$39.78–$43.943
ME$37.64–$39.002
MI$37.84–$39.202
MN$39.491
MO$36.77–$38.503
MS$36.591
MT$39.411
NC$37.901
ND$39.021
NE$37.531
NH$40.111
NJ$42.02–$43.752
NM$37.971
NV$39.321
NY$38.26–$44.855
OH$37.761
OK$37.231
OR$39.14–$41.672
PA$37.82–$40.682
PR$39.611
RI$40.341
SC$37.871
SD$38.971
TN$37.371
TX$37.65–$40.488
UT$38.201
VA$38.89–$43.942
VI$39.611
VT$38.891
WA$40.52–$44.602
WI$38.151
WV$37.211
WY$39.241

How the 92537 rate is calculated

Each of 92537’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 · 92537

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.59Practice expense 0.57Malpractice 0.02

1.1800 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$39.41

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 92537

The CMS indicators that decide how 92537 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 92537

Caloric test

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)2Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

92537 without 26 · national office

$39.41

Caloric test

92537-26 · Professional component

$30.39

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

92537 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

92537 vs 92538 vs 92540 vs 92546: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 92537
    Caloric test · 0.59 wRVU
    $39.41
  • 92538
    Caloric vestibular test · 0.29 wRVU
    $21.71−$17.70
  • 92540
    Vestibular evaluation · 1.46 wRVU
    $103.54+$64.13
  • 92546
    Rotational test · 0.28 wRVU
    $134.61+$95.20

How to choose

92538Caloric vestibular test
Use 92537 when eye movements are recorded during caloric testing; use 92538 when they are not.
92540Vestibular evaluation
92540 represents a basic vestibular evaluation with a group of other vestibular tests. 92537 specifically reports recorded caloric testing.
92546Rotational test
92546 reports sinusoidal rotational vestibular testing. It is a different test method from caloric stimulation with recorded eye movements.

92537 billing questions

How does 92537 differ from 92538?

92537 is for caloric vestibular testing with eye-movement recording. Use 92538 when the test is performed without recording.

Should modifier 50 be added for both ears?

No. CMS prices 92537 as a bilateral service, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

Use 26 for the professional interpretation and TC for the technical service, including equipment and staff. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.

What documentation supports 92537?

Document that caloric testing was performed with eye-movement recording and include the findings and interpretation. The record should support that the service was the recorded test rather than testing without recording.

Can 92537 be reported with 92540?

The caloric test is distinct from the basic vestibular evaluation represented by 92540. Report both when each service was performed and documented.

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 92537PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,797 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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