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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

97550 in Chico

Office / nonfacility

$55.01

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$40.74

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Rehabilitation therapy

About 97550: Individual caregiver functional training

Reports face-to-face, individual training for a caregiver on strategies that support a patient's functional performance at home or in the community, with the patient absent.

A qualified health professional trains a caregiver in practical strategies for supporting a patient's function at home or in the community. The patient is not present during this face-to-face service. Training may address safe transfers, mobility, dressing and other daily activities, communication, feeding, swallowing, problem-solving, or safety practices. For example, an occupational therapist may teach a family member how to assist a patient with dressing and transfers after a stroke. Physical and speech-language therapists may also provide training within their areas of practice, in an outpatient clinic or rehabilitation setting.

Report 97550 for the initial 30 minutes of individual caregiver training. Use 97551 for qualifying additional training time, and use 97552 when the caregiver training is provided to a group. Documentation should identify the caregiver, the patient's functional need, the strategies taught, and the face-to-face training time. The physician fee schedule values the service through work, practice-expense, and malpractice components; the supplied CMS rules identify no additional payment adjustment for this code.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.00 · 63%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU0.57 · 36%
  • Malpractice RVU0.01 · 1%

12.1K

Medicare services in 2024 · #1371 by national volume

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.

97550 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Chico, from the same CMS release.

97551

Caregiver training

Each additional 15 minutes

$27.13

97550 covers the initial 30 minutes of individual caregiver training; 97551 reports qualifying additional time.

97552

Caregiver training

Group, per 15 minutes

$23.37

Choose 97550 for individual caregiver training and 97552 when the caregiver training is provided to a group.

97535

Self-care training

ADL and home management, per 15 minutes

$34.13

97550 trains a caregiver without the patient present. 97535 describes self-care or home-management training provided to the patient.

97530

Therapeutic activities

One-on-one, each 15 minutes

$37.09

97530 covers therapeutic activities performed with the patient; 97550 is caregiver training conducted without the patient present.

The same code, a different location

How does Chico compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 97550 is $55.11—$0.10 higher than the $55.01 rate in Chico. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

97550 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Chico · This locality

    $55.01

  2. Bakersfield

    $55.11

    $0.10 higher than Chico

  3. El Centro

    $55.02

    $0.01 higher than Chico

  4. Fresno

    $55.01

    The same base rate than Chico

  5. Hanford-Corcoran

    $55.01

    The same base rate than Chico

  6. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $57.51

    $2.50 higher than Chico

  7. Madera

    $55.01

    The same base rate than Chico

Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 97550 ranges from $49.93 in Arkansas to $70.56 in Alaska*. This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Merced

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.01

    Facility

    $40.74

    The same base rate than Chico for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.01

    Facility

    $40.74

    The same base rate than Chico for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 97550

    Office

    $60.77

    Facility

    $43.60

    $5.76 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 97550

    Office

    $57.05

    Facility

    $41.65

    $2.04 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.01

    Facility

    $40.74

    The same base rate than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.01

    Facility

    $40.74

    The same base rate than Chico for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.15

    Facility

    $40.88

    $0.14 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 97550

    Office

    $56.92

    Facility

    $41.77

    $1.91 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 97550

    Office

    $56.68

    Facility

    $41.58

    $1.67 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 97550

    Office

    $57.35

    Facility

    $41.77

    $2.34 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 97550

    Office

    $63.57

    Facility

    $45.20

    $8.56 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 97550

    Office

    $63.56

    Facility

    $45.19

    $8.55 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 97550

    Office

    $64.71

    Facility

    $45.92

    $9.70 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 97550

    Office

    $64.66

    Facility

    $45.88

    $9.65 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.83

    Facility

    $41.00

    $0.82 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 97550

    Office

    $57.41

    Facility

    $41.59

    $2.40 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 97550

    Office

    $56.71

    Facility

    $41.53

    $1.70 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 97550

    Office

    $57.96

    Facility

    $41.96

    $2.95 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.01

    Facility

    $40.74

    The same base rate than Chico for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 97550

    Office

    $60.75

    Facility

    $43.58

    $5.74 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.01

    Facility

    $40.74

    The same base rate than Chico for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 97550

    Office

    $55.01

    Facility

    $40.74

    The same base rate than Chico for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 97550

    Office

    $58.00

    Facility

    $42.66

    $2.99 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 97550

    Office

    $54.06

    Facility

    $40.50

    $0.95 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 97550

    Office

    $53.53

    Facility

    $40.44

    $1.48 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 97550

    Office

    $58.19

    Facility

    $43.05

    $3.18 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 97550

    Office

    $70.56

    Facility

    $56.69

    $15.55 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 97550

    Office

    $50.25

    Facility

    $38.85

    $4.76 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 97550

    Office

    $49.93

    Facility

    $38.74

    $5.08 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 97550

    Office

    $52.14

    Facility

    $39.51

    $2.87 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 97550

    Office

    $54.32

    Facility

    $40.46

    $0.69 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 97550

    Office

    $54.98

    Facility

    $40.95

    $0.03 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 97550

    Office

    $52.68

    Facility

    $39.81

    $2.33 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 97550

    Office

    $53.29

    Facility

    $40.10

    $1.72 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 97550

    Office

    $52.10

    Facility

    $39.65

    $2.91 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 97550

    Office

    $53.25

    Facility

    $40.01

    $1.76 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 97550

    Office

    $50.78

    Facility

    $39.16

    $4.23 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 97550

    Office

    $55.24

    Facility

    $40.43

    $0.23 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 97550

    Office

    $50.95

    Facility

    $39.03

    $4.06 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 97550

    Office

    $51.07

    Facility

    $39.09

    $3.94 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 97550

    Office

    $51.59

    Facility

    $39.60

    $3.42 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 97550

    Office

    $51.31

    Facility

    $39.41

    $3.70 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 97550

    Office

    $53.78

    Facility

    $40.40

    $1.23 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 97550

    Office

    $51.21

    Facility

    $39.14

    $3.80 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 97550

    Office

    $50.78

    Facility

    $39.00

    $4.23 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 97550

    Office

    $50.63

    Facility

    $39.05

    $4.38 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 97550

    Office

    $51.70

    Facility

    $39.44

    $3.31 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 97550

    Office

    $50.57

    Facility

    $39.04

    $4.44 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 97550

    Office

    $57.80

    Facility

    $42.25

    $2.79 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 97550

    Office

    $54.25

    Facility

    $40.53

    $0.76 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 97550

    Office

    $54.78

    Facility

    $40.80

    $0.23 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 97550

    Office

    $53.31

    Facility

    $40.13

    $1.70 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 97550

    Office

    $51.12

    Facility

    $39.14

    $3.89 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 97550

    Office

    $52.48

    Facility

    $39.57

    $2.53 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 97550

    Office

    $52.34

    Facility

    $39.77

    $2.67 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 97550

    Office

    $51.16

    Facility

    $39.27

    $3.85 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 97550

    Office

    $53.09

    Facility

    $39.69

    $1.92 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 97550

    Office

    $51.60

    Facility

    $39.37

    $3.41 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 97550

    Office

    $51.86

    Facility

    $39.46

    $3.15 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 97550

    Office

    $50.14

    Facility

    $38.91

    $4.87 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 97550

    Office

    $50.04

    Facility

    $38.82

    $4.97 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 97550

    Office

    $52.77

    Facility

    $39.75

    $2.24 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 97550

    Office

    $51.38

    Facility

    $39.22

    $3.63 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 97550

    Office

    $52.58

    Facility

    $39.55

    $2.43 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 97550

    Office

    $51.10

    Facility

    $39.08

    $3.91 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 97550

    Office

    $53.51

    Facility

    $39.95

    $1.50 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 97550

    Office

    $57.95

    Facility

    $42.84

    $2.94 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 97550

    Office

    $55.89

    Facility

    $41.67

    $0.88 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 97550

    Office

    $51.26

    Facility

    $39.32

    $3.75 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 97550

    Office

    $52.74

    Facility

    $39.70

    $2.27 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 97550

    Office

    $58.80

    Facility

    $43.31

    $3.79 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 97550

    Office

    $56.16

    Facility

    $41.89

    $1.15 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 97550

    Office

    $58.52

    Facility

    $43.13

    $3.51 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 97550

    Office

    $51.72

    Facility

    $39.35

    $3.29 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 97550

    Office

    $51.12

    Facility

    $39.23

    $3.89 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 97550

    Office

    $50.66

    Facility

    $39.03

    $4.35 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 97550

    Office

    $55.34

    Facility

    $40.86

    $0.33 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 97550

    Office

    $52.60

    Facility

    $39.62

    $2.41 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 97550

    Office

    $54.22

    Facility

    $40.66

    $0.79 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 97550

    Office

    $51.19

    Facility

    $39.24

    $3.82 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 97550

    Office

    $52.98

    Facility

    $39.81

    $2.03 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 97550

    Office

    $54.00

    Facility

    $40.54

    $1.01 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 97550

    Office

    $51.28

    Facility

    $39.24

    $3.73 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 97550

    Office

    $52.55

    Facility

    $39.53

    $2.46 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 97550

    Office

    $50.89

    Facility

    $39.05

    $4.12 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 97550

    Office

    $53.91

    Facility

    $40.12

    $1.10 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 97550

    Office

    $51.04

    Facility

    $39.18

    $3.97 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 97550

    Office

    $52.80

    Facility

    $39.89

    $2.21 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 97550

    Office

    $52.95

    Facility

    $39.98

    $2.06 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 97550

    Office

    $52.76

    Facility

    $39.92

    $2.25 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 97550

    Office

    $52.85

    Facility

    $39.91

    $2.16 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 97550

    Office

    $53.03

    Facility

    $40.10

    $1.98 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 97550

    Office

    $51.77

    Facility

    $39.41

    $3.24 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 97550

    Office

    $51.60

    Facility

    $39.35

    $3.41 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 97550

    Office

    $52.35

    Facility

    $39.55

    $2.66 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 97550

    Office

    $52.98

    Facility

    $39.81

    $2.03 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 97550

    Office

    $52.42

    Facility

    $39.52

    $2.59 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 97550

    Office

    $54.14

    Facility

    $40.42

    $0.87 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 97550

    Office

    $58.70

    Facility

    $42.72

    $3.69 higher than Chico for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 97550

    Office

    $51.74

    Facility

    $39.26

    $3.27 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 97550

    Office

    $50.42

    Facility

    $39.10

    $4.59 lower than Chico for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 97550

    Office

    $52.69

    Facility

    $39.66

    $2.32 lower than Chico for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

97550 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$49.93

$70.56

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$70.561
AL$50.251
AR$49.931
AZ$52.141
CA$55.01–$64.7129
CO$54.321
CT$54.981
DC$58.001
DE$52.681
FL$52.10–$54.063
GA$50.78–$53.252
GU$55.241
HI$55.241
IA$50.951
ID$51.071
IL$51.31–$53.784
IN$51.211
KS$50.781
KY$50.631
LA$50.57–$51.702
MA$54.25–$57.802
MD$53.31–$58.003
ME$51.12–$52.482
MI$51.16–$52.342
MN$53.091
MO$50.14–$51.863
MS$50.041
MT$52.771
NC$51.381
ND$52.581
NE$51.101
NH$53.511
NJ$55.89–$57.952
NM$51.261
NV$52.741
NY$51.72–$58.805
OH$51.121
OK$50.661
OR$52.60–$55.342
PA$51.19–$54.222
PR$52.981
RI$54.001
SC$51.281
SD$52.551
TN$50.891
TX$51.04–$53.918
UT$51.601
VA$52.35–$58.002
VI$52.981
VT$52.421
WA$54.14–$58.702
WI$51.741
WV$50.421
WY$52.691

Explore 97550 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Chico is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 30 cities and communities in California, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in California →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 97550 in Chico, the physician’s office rate is $55.01 and the facility-setting rate is $40.74: a difference of $14.27.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 97550 in Chico. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$60.51

$55.01 × 110% = $60.51

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

Compare your contract offer →

How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 97550 in Chico.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

12,896

Code
97550
Physician work
1.00
Practice expense
0.57
Malpractice
0.01

GPCI2026.csv

9

Locality
Chico
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 97550 in Chico
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.00× 1.0171.0170
Practice expense0.57× 1.0960.6247
Malpractice0.01× 0.5360.0054
Total RVUs1.6471
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Chico$55.01

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 97550 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work11.017
Practice expense0.571.096
Malpractice0.010.536

(1 × 1.017 + 0.57 × 1.096 + 0.01 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $55.01

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work11.017
Practice expense0.181.096
Malpractice0.010.536

(1 × 1.017 + 0.18 × 1.096 + 0.01 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $40.74

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

97550 · Office / nonfacility

$55.01

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.16 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $53.85 to $55.01 (2.2%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $53.85changed to$55.01

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.58 changed to 0.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.03 changed to 0.01
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $53.85

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$55.01$40.74RVU26D
2026-07-01$55.01$40.74RVU26C
2026-04-01$55.01$40.74RVU26B
2026-01-01$55.01$40.74RVU26A
2025-10-01$53.85$45.72RVU25D
2025-07-01$53.85$45.72RVU25C
2025-04-01$53.85$45.72RVU25B
2025-01-01$53.85$45.72RVU25A

97550 billing questions

Is the patient present during 97550?

No. The service is face-to-face caregiver training provided without the patient present.

When should 97551 be reported with 97550?

97551 is the add-on code for qualifying additional caregiver-training time after the initial 30 minutes reported with 97550.

How does 97550 differ from 97552?

97550 describes individual caregiver training. Use 97552 for caregiver training delivered to a group.

How does 97550 differ from 97535?

97550 is training for a caregiver while the patient is absent. 97535 is self-care or home-management training provided to the patient.

What should the note support?

Document who received the training, the patient's functional need, the techniques taught, and the face-to-face time spent training the caregiver.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 97550PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,896 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ChicoGPCI2026.csv, line 9 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet