Billing code 93978: Vascular duplexMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $180.36 for 93978 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $157.00–$247.20.

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

What 93978 covers

This service uses duplex ultrasound to assess blood flow and vessel structure in the aorta, inferior vena cava, iliac vessels, or a related bypass graft. Vascular sonographers commonly acquire the images in an outpatient vascular laboratory or hospital department; a qualified physician interprets the study. Clinical uses include assessment of suspected aortoiliac disease, surveillance of an aneurysm, evaluation of a graft, or investigation of suspected caval obstruction or thrombosis.

Select this code when the documented examination is complete for the relevant vessel or graft; use 93979 when the examination is limited. The report should identify the anatomy examined and include findings supporting the complete evaluation. The service may be billed globally, or split into interpretation with modifier 26 and equipment-and-staff services with modifier TC. When multiple cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are performed, the multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component.

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 93978 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

93978 rates by state

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

How the 93978 rate is calculated

Each of 93978’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 93978

The CMS indicators that decide how 93978 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

93978 compared with similar codes

How to choose

93979Vascular duplex

This code represents a complete evaluation of the relevant central vessel or graft anatomy; 93979 is for a limited examination.

93975Vascular duplex

93975 evaluates abdominal or pelvic visceral vascular flow. Choose this code when the study instead examines the aorta, vena cava, iliac vessels, or related graft.

93976Vascular study

93976 is the limited visceral vascular duplex option. It does not replace a complete central vessel or graft evaluation.

Codes related to 93978

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