Billing code 93042: Rhythm ECGMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports a clinician’s interpretation of a one- to three-lead rhythm ECG when the professional reading is billed separately from tracing acquisition.
Medicare pays $7.01 for 93042 nationally in the office and $7.01 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $6.62–$9.48.
Medicare rate · 93042
Rhythm ECG
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.15
- Total RVUs
- 0.21
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$7.01
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 93042 → · 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 93042 covers
93042 represents the interpretation of a limited-lead rhythm ECG, typically a short tracing used to assess heart rate and rhythm, such as when evaluating suspected atrial fibrillation, ectopy, or another arrhythmia. It covers the interpretation and written report for a one- to three-lead rhythm recording, not acquisition of the tracing. Emergency physicians, cardiologists, and other clinicians who interpret ECGs may provide this service in emergency departments, hospitals, or offices.
Report 93042 when documentation supports a rhythm tracing and a corresponding interpretation and report, including the relevant findings and impression. Select it when billing only the professional reading; the technical portion has a separate code. When the same entity provides both tracing and interpretation, 93040 represents the combined rhythm ECG service. CMS classifies 93042 as professional-component-only, so it is not split with modifier 26.
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 93042 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
$6.62 to $9.48
109 of 109 payment localities
93042 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.
$6.62
$9.48
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 | $9.48 | 1 |
| AL | $6.66 | 1 |
| AR | $6.62 | 1 |
| AZ | $6.91 | 1 |
| CA | $7.10–$8.15 | 29 |
| CO | $7.11 | 1 |
| CT | $7.31 | 1 |
| DC | $7.62 | 1 |
| DE | $6.99 | 1 |
| FL | $7.11–$7.59 | 3 |
| GA | $6.90–$7.12 | 2 |
| GU | $7.10 | 1 |
| HI | $7.10 | 1 |
| IA | $6.67 | 1 |
| ID | $6.70 | 1 |
| IL | $7.06–$7.49 | 4 |
| IN | $6.72 | 1 |
| KS | $6.69 | 1 |
| KY | $6.80 | 1 |
| LA | $6.81–$6.96 | 2 |
| MA | $7.12–$7.51 | 2 |
| MD | $7.06–$7.62 | 3 |
| ME | $6.75–$6.88 | 2 |
| MI | $6.91–$7.18 | 2 |
| MN | $6.83 | 1 |
| MO | $6.78–$6.93 | 3 |
| MS | $6.69 | 1 |
| MT | $7.01 | 1 |
| NC | $6.78 | 1 |
| ND | $6.82 | 1 |
| NE | $6.68 | 1 |
| NH | $7.04 | 1 |
| NJ | $7.40–$7.62 | 2 |
| NM | $6.94 | 1 |
| NV | $6.96 | 1 |
| NY | $6.83–$7.94 | 5 |
| OH | $6.87 | 1 |
| OK | $6.76 | 1 |
| OR | $6.91–$7.19 | 2 |
| PA | $6.86–$7.24 | 2 |
| PR | $7.03 | 1 |
| RI | $7.13 | 1 |
| SC | $6.84 | 1 |
| SD | $6.79 | 1 |
| TN | $6.71 | 1 |
| TX | $6.84–$7.17 | 8 |
| UT | $6.88 | 1 |
| VA | $6.89–$7.62 | 2 |
| VI | $7.03 | 1 |
| VT | $6.83 | 1 |
| WA | $7.09–$7.58 | 2 |
| WI | $6.71 | 1 |
| WV | $6.94 | 1 |
| WY | $6.93 | 1 |
How the 93042 rate is calculated
Each of 93042’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 · 93042
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.15Practice expense 0.05Malpractice 0.01
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 93042
The CMS indicators that decide how 93042 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 93042
Rhythm ECG
| 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 | 2 | Professional component only. |
93042 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
93042 vs 93040 vs 93041 vs 93010 vs 93000: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 93040Rhythm ECG
- 93040 covers both the rhythm tracing and its interpretation and report. 93042 covers only the professional interpretation and report.
- 93041Rhythm ECG
- 93041 covers acquisition of the one- to three-lead rhythm tracing without the professional reading. 93042 covers the interpretation and report.
- 93010ECG interpretation
- 93010 is the interpretation-and-report code for a standard ECG. 93042 is for a limited-lead rhythm ECG.
- 93000Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- 93000 represents a complete standard ECG service with tracing and interpretation and report; 93042 represents only a limited-lead rhythm ECG interpretation and report.
93042 billing questions
What service does 93042 cover?
It covers interpretation and reporting of a one- to three-lead rhythm ECG. It does not cover acquisition of the tracing.
When should 93042 be used instead of 93040?
Use 93042 when billing only the professional interpretation and report. Use 93040 when the same service includes both the rhythm tracing and its interpretation and report.
Is the rhythm tracing included in 93042?
No. The tracing is the technical portion and has a separate code, 93041.
Should modifier 26 be appended to 93042?
No. 93042 already represents the professional interpretation and report only.
How does 93042 differ from 93010?
93042 reports interpretation of a limited-lead rhythm ECG. 93010 reports interpretation and report for a standard ECG rather than a limited-lead rhythm tracing.
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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