CPT code 93896: TCD vasoreactivity2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $187.38 for 93896 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $163.76–$259.02.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 93896 covers

This service adds a complete cerebral vasoreactivity assessment using transcranial Doppler (TCD), which measures changes in blood-flow velocity in intracranial arteries during a vasodilatory challenge. Vascular laboratories and neurology services may perform it when evaluating cerebrovascular reserve, including in patients with suspected impaired autoregulation or intracranial arterial disease. The assessment evaluates the response across a complete intracranial TCD examination, rather than documenting baseline flow alone.

Report 93896 only with its required primary TCD procedure; it is an add-on, not a stand-alone service. For a complete intracranial TCD study, the primary procedure is generally 93886. Documentation should identify the arteries assessed, the challenge and response measurements, and the interpretation supporting a complete vasoreactivity evaluation. CMS payment is included within the primary procedure's global period. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, modifier TC identifies the technical service, and no component modifier 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 93896 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

93896 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 93896 rate is calculated

Each of 93896’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 93896

The CMS indicators that decide how 93896 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

93896 compared with similar codes

How to choose

93886Intracranial Doppler

93886 reports the complete intracranial TCD examination; 93896 adds the vasoreactivity assessment and requires a primary procedure.

93888Intracranial limited study

93888 is for a limited intracranial TCD examination. Use 93896 for the complete vasoreactivity add-on, not as a substitute for the limited study.

93892Tcd emboli detect w/o inj

93892 evaluates embolic signals. Code 93896 assesses intracranial flow response to a vasodilatory challenge.

Codes related to 93896

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates