Billing code 94644: Continuous inhalationMedicare rate & RVUs
Report continuous aerosol medication treatment for acute airway obstruction for the initial hour, such as prolonged nebulized bronchodilator therapy.
Medicare pays $62.46 for 94644 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $53.42–$89.46.
Medicare rate · 94644
Continuous inhalation
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0
- Total RVUs
- 1.87
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$62.46
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 94644 → · 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 94644 covers
94644 describes continuous aerosol medication treatment for acute airway obstruction during the first hour. A clinician may provide it when a patient needs prolonged nebulized medication, such as continuous bronchodilator treatment during an acute asthma exacerbation. In an office or clinic, a respiratory therapist or other qualified clinical staff member may administer the treatment under physician supervision.
Report 94644 for the initial hour of continuous treatment, not for a routine brief inhalation treatment. Document the indication, medication, continuous delivery, and treatment duration so the record supports the service and the time billed. If treatment continues beyond the first hour, 94645 represents each additional hour. This service is billed as an incident-to service only when performed under physician supervision.
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 94644 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
$53.42 to $89.46
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54.45 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $66.18 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $60.45 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $53.42 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $63.58 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $65.97 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $68.13 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $67.13 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $56.85 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $61.76 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $63.63 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $66.27 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $67.36 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $62.12 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $73.53 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $61.65 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $60.76 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $58.19 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $68.09 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $63.80 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $61.51 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $61.91 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $70.64 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $62.28 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $57.16 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $57.61 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $56.80 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $56.20 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $55.54 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $73.54 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $72.86 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $74.37 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $58.68 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $65.12 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $59.50 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $66.01 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $63.78 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $53.70 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $62.46 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $81.78 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $57.29 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $62.41 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $64.91 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $57.47 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $58.90 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $58.08 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $62.06 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $72.39 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $74.71 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $57.09 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $55.70 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $73.45 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $69.15 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $68.47 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $63.13 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $74.00 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $60.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $55.91 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $57.46 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $55.33 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $57.26 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $63.15 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $65.60 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $57.17 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $53.92 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $68.21 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $59.17 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $62.01 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $57.36 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $59.24 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $65.57 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $64.43 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $68.29 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $72.22 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $71.97 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $74.26 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $87.43 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $87.41 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $89.46 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $89.37 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $70.74 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $75.43 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $72.41 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $76.24 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $76.36 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $57.66 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $62.02 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $61.66 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $64.64 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $56.53 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $58.68 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $81.75 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $61.51 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $63.13 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $61.21 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $68.08 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $54.65 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $59.40 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $62.29 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $68.08 | Unavailable |
94644 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.
$53.42
$78.77
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 | $66.18 | 1 |
| AL | $54.45 | 1 |
| AR | $53.42 | 1 |
| AZ | $60.45 | 1 |
| CA | $68.08–$89.46 | 29 |
| CO | $66.27 | 1 |
| CT | $67.36 | 1 |
| DC | $73.53 | 1 |
| DE | $61.65 | 1 |
| FL | $60.08–$66.01 | 3 |
| GA | $55.91–$63.58 | 2 |
| GU | $70.64 | 1 |
| HI | $70.64 | 1 |
| IA | $56.80 | 1 |
| ID | $57.16 | 1 |
| IL | $57.46–$64.64 | 4 |
| IN | $57.61 | 1 |
| KS | $56.20 | 1 |
| KY | $55.54 | 1 |
| LA | $55.33–$58.90 | 2 |
| MA | $65.60–$74.37 | 2 |
| MD | $63.15–$73.53 | 3 |
| ME | $57.26–$61.66 | 2 |
| MI | $57.17–$60.76 | 2 |
| MN | $63.78 | 1 |
| MO | $53.92–$59.50 | 3 |
| MS | $53.70 | 1 |
| MT | $62.46 | 1 |
| NC | $58.08 | 1 |
| ND | $62.06 | 1 |
| NE | $57.29 | 1 |
| NH | $64.91 | 1 |
| NJ | $68.21–$72.39 | 2 |
| NM | $57.47 | 1 |
| NV | $62.41 | 1 |
| NY | $59.17–$74.71 | 5 |
| OH | $57.09 | 1 |
| OK | $55.70 | 1 |
| OR | $62.01–$69.15 | 2 |
| PA | $57.36–$65.12 | 2 |
| PR | $63.13 | 1 |
| RI | $64.43 | 1 |
| SC | $57.66 | 1 |
| SD | $62.02 | 1 |
| TN | $56.53 | 1 |
| TX | $56.85–$65.97 | 8 |
| UT | $58.68 | 1 |
| VA | $61.21–$73.53 | 2 |
| VI | $63.13 | 1 |
| VT | $61.51 | 1 |
| WA | $65.57–$76.36 | 2 |
| WI | $59.40 | 1 |
| WV | $54.65 | 1 |
| WY | $62.29 | 1 |
How the 94644 rate is calculated
Each of 94644’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 · 94644
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.00Practice expense 1.85Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 94644
The CMS indicators that decide how 94644 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 94644
Continuous inhalation
| 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 | 5 | Incident-to service. |
94644 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
94644 vs 94640 vs 94645 vs 94664: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 94640Inhalation treatment
- Choose 94644 for continuous aerosol treatment during the first hour. Use 94640 for inhalation treatment for acute airway obstruction when the service is not continuous first-hour therapy.
- 94645Continuous inhalation
- 94644 reports the initial hour of continuous treatment; 94645 reports each additional hour after that.
- 94664Inhaler training
- 94664 is for demonstrating or evaluating patient use of an inhaler. It does not describe continuous aerosol medication administration.
94644 billing questions
How does 94644 differ from 94640?
94644 is for continuous aerosol treatment during the first hour. 94640 describes an inhalation treatment for acute airway obstruction that is not reported as continuous first-hour therapy.
When is 94645 reported with 94644?
Report 94644 for the first hour and 94645 for each additional hour when continuous treatment extends beyond that initial hour.
What documentation supports 94644?
Document the acute airway indication, medication administered, continuous delivery, and duration. The record should establish that the service was performed under physician supervision.
Can a routine inhaler lesson be reported as 94644?
No. Teaching or evaluating a patient's use of an inhaler is described by 94664; 94644 is for continuous aerosol medication treatment.
Who may provide this service for Medicare billing?
The service is billed as incident-to only when performed under physician supervision. Clinical staff such as a respiratory therapist may administer the treatment in that setting.
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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