Billing code 92611: Swallow studyMedicare rate & RVUs

A speech-language pathologist evaluates swallowing during recorded fluoroscopy to assess bolus movement and identify problems such as penetration or aspiration.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities10.8K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $91.52 for 92611 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $84.21–$115.93.

Medicare rate · 92611

Swallow study

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
1.31
Total RVUs
2.74
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$91.52

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 92611 → · 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 92611 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 92611 covers

A videofluoroscopic swallowing evaluation uses moving X-ray images to examine how a patient handles food and liquid boluses. A speech-language pathologist observes and records swallowing, commonly in a radiology suite with a radiologist involved in the imaging service. The study can show oral and pharyngeal bolus movement and help identify penetration, aspiration, or swallowing strategies that improve safety. Barium-containing consistencies are used so the bolus can be seen on fluoroscopy.

Report 92611 for the speech-language pathologist’s fluoroscopic swallowing evaluation, rather than a bedside clinical assessment or an endoscopic examination. Documentation should support the need for instrumental assessment and describe the tested consistencies, observed swallowing findings, and resulting recommendations. CMS classifies this as a therapy service, so the professional component modifier is not used with 92611. The radiologist’s distinct radiologic service may be reported with 74230 when performed and documented; that code does not replace the speech-language pathologist’s evaluation.

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 92611 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

$84.21 to $115.93

$84.21$100.07$115.93
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

92611 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$85.03Unavailable
Alaska*$115.64Unavailable
Arizona$89.85Unavailable
Arkansas$84.21Unavailable
Atlanta$92.72Unavailable
Austin$94.09Unavailable
Bakersfield$96.12Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$95.98Unavailable
Beaumont$87.25Unavailable
Brazoria$91.09Unavailable

92611 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.

$84.21

$115.64

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

View every state and territory as a table
92611 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$115.641
AL$85.031
AR$84.211
AZ$89.851
CA$95.91–$115.9329
CO$94.631
CT$96.291
DC$102.271
DE$91.021
FL$90.33–$95.963
GA$86.86–$92.722
GU$97.131
HI$97.131
IA$86.591
ID$86.951
IL$88.45–$94.364
IN$87.301
KS$86.271
KY$86.261
LA$86.15–$89.032
MA$94.32–$102.072
MD$92.37–$102.273
ME$87.20–$90.492
MI$87.72–$91.052
MN$91.681
MO$85.11–$89.313
MS$84.681
MT$91.521
NC$87.831
ND$90.531
NE$86.931
NH$93.201
NJ$97.67–$101.762
NM$88.031
NV$91.291
NY$88.72–$104.465
OH$87.521
OK$86.211
OR$90.84–$96.912
PA$87.65–$94.522
PR$92.001
RI$93.691
SC$87.761
SD$90.411
TN$86.551
TX$87.25–$94.098
UT$88.581
VA$90.24–$102.272
VI$92.001
VT$90.231
WA$94.13–$103.862
WI$88.431
WV$86.201
WY$91.081

How the 92611 rate is calculated

Each of 92611’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 · 92611

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 1.31Practice expense 1.38Malpractice 0.05

2.7400 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$91.52

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 92611

The CMS indicators that decide how 92611 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 92611

Swallow study

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical7Therapy service: the split doesn’t apply.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier CQ · payment effect

With and without the modifier

92611 without CQ · national office

$91.52

Swallow study

92611-CQ · Allowed amount unchanged

$91.52

Medicare cuts its own payment by 15% after the patient’s 20% coinsurance; the allowed amount stays the same. On $100 allowed: $20 coinsurance, then Medicare pays $68 instead of $80.

92611 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

92611 vs 92610 vs 92612 vs 74230: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 92611
    Swallow study · 1.31 wRVU
    $91.52
  • 92610
    Swallow evaluation · 1.3 wRVU
    $84.84−$6.68
  • 92612
    Swallowing endoscopy · 1.24 wRVU
    $199.74+$108.22
  • 74230
    Swallow study · 0.52 wRVU
    $120.24+$28.72

How to choose

92610Swallow evaluation
Use 92610 for a clinical swallowing-function assessment. Use 92611 when the evaluation is conducted with recorded fluoroscopic imaging.
92612Swallowing endoscopy
92612 describes an endoscopic swallowing examination. 92611 uses fluoroscopy to observe bolus movement.
74230Swallow study
74230 represents the radiologic swallowing examination; 92611 represents the speech-language pathologist’s evaluation during fluoroscopy.

92611 billing questions

How is 92611 different from 92610?

92611 describes a swallowing evaluation performed with fluoroscopic imaging and recording. 92610 is a clinical swallowing-function evaluation without that fluoroscopic study.

Can 92611 be reported with 74230?

They represent distinct services: the speech-language pathologist’s swallowing evaluation and the radiologic swallowing examination. Both may be reported when each service is performed and documented.

Should modifier 26 be appended to 92611?

No. CMS identifies 92611 as a therapy service for which the professional component modifier does not apply.

How does 92611 differ from 92612?

92611 uses fluoroscopy to observe swallowing. 92612 describes an endoscopic swallowing evaluation, using a different examination method.

What documentation supports 92611?

Document why instrumental assessment was needed, the consistencies tested, fluoroscopic swallowing observations, and the clinical recommendations based on the study.

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 92611PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,869 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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