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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

97018 in El Centro

Office / nonfacility

$6.25

Base rate per service

Facility setting

Not available in this setting

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.

Physical therapy

About 97018: Paraffin bath heat therapy

Paraffin bath therapy applies therapeutic heat, commonly to a hand or wrist, as a physical or occupational therapy modality.

Paraffin bath therapy uses warmed paraffin wax to deliver superficial heat to a body area. Physical and occupational therapists commonly use it for a hand or wrist affected by stiffness or pain, often before therapeutic movement or hand-function activities. The patient immerses the area in the wax or has wax applied, and the therapist manages the treatment and monitors the area.

Report 97018 for the paraffin modality itself, not for exercise or other skilled treatment performed during the visit. Documentation should identify the treated area, the clinical reason for heat, and the treatment provided. This is a therapy service, so a professional-component modifier does not apply. When multiple therapy units are reported for the same patient on the same day, CMS reduces practice expense for the second and later units.

CMS billing rules for 97018

Professional and technical components
Therapy service: the professional component modifier does not apply.
Multiple procedures
Therapy multiple procedure payment reduction: practice expense is reduced for the second and later therapy units on the same day.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU0.06 · 33%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU0.11 · 61%
  • Malpractice RVU0.01 · 6%

160.8K

Medicare services in 2024 · #432 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.

97018 compared with similar codes

Office rates for El Centro, from the same CMS release.

97010

Hot or cold packs therapy

No office rate

Choose 97018 when warmed paraffin wax is applied. Choose 97010 when the treatment uses hot or cold packs.

97022

Whirlpool therapy

Agitated water immersion

$16.57

97018 describes paraffin wax heat; 97022 describes whirlpool treatment using water immersion.

97034

Contrast baths

Each 15 minutes

$14.64

97034 is for contrast bath treatment alternating warm and cold immersion. 97018 is for paraffin bath therapy.

The same code, a different location

How does El Centro compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 97018 is $6.27—$0.02 higher than the $6.25 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

97018 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. El Centro · This locality

    $6.25

  2. Bakersfield

    $6.27

    $0.02 higher than El Centro

  3. Chico

    $6.24

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  4. Fresno

    $6.24

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  5. Hanford-Corcoran

    $6.24

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

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

    $6.65

    $0.40 higher than El Centro

  7. Madera

    $6.24

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

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, 97018 ranges from $5.33 in Arkansas to $7.70 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). 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 · 97018

    Office

    $6.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 97018

    Office

    $7.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.89 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.36 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.35

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.10 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.28 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.25 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.39 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 97018

    Office

    $7.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.28 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 97018

    Office

    $7.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.27 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 97018

    Office

    $7.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.45 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 97018

    Office

    $7.66

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.41 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.15 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.44 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.27 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.50 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 97018

    Office

    $7.13

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.88 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 97018

    Office

    $6.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 97018

    Office

    $6.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.56 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 97018

    Office

    $6.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.42 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 97018

    Office

    $6.48

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.23 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 97018

    Office

    $6.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.68 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 97018

    Office

    $7.10

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.85 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 97018

    Office

    $5.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 97018

    Office

    $5.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.92 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 97018

    Office

    $5.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.40 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 97018

    Office

    $6.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.05 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 97018

    Office

    $6.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.16 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 97018

    Office

    $5.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.31 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 97018

    Office

    $6.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.08 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 97018

    Office

    $6.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.23 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 97018

    Office

    $6.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.11 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 97018

    Office

    $5.68

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.57 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 97018

    Office

    $6.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.12 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 97018

    Office

    $5.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.75 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 97018

    Office

    $5.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.71 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 97018

    Office

    $6.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 97018

    Office

    $5.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.37 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 97018

    Office

    $6.38

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.13 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 97018

    Office

    $5.57

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.68 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 97018

    Office

    $5.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 97018

    Office

    $5.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.67 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 97018

    Office

    $5.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.41 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 97018

    Office

    $5.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.67 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 97018

    Office

    $6.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.52 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 97018

    Office

    $6.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.08 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 97018

    Office

    $6.39

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.14 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 97018

    Office

    $6.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.20 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 97018

    Office

    $5.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.66 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 97018

    Office

    $5.86

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 97018

    Office

    $6.11

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.14 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 97018

    Office

    $5.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.51 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 97018

    Office

    $5.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.37 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 97018

    Office

    $5.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.47 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 97018

    Office

    $5.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.41 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 97018

    Office

    $5.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.75 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 97018

    Office

    $5.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 97018

    Office

    $6.01

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.24 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 97018

    Office

    $5.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.60 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 97018

    Office

    $5.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.44 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 97018

    Office

    $5.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 97018

    Office

    $6.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 97018

    Office

    $6.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.50 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 97018

    Office

    $6.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.21 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 97018

    Office

    $5.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.48 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 97018

    Office

    $5.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.29 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 97018

    Office

    $7.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.87 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 97018

    Office

    $6.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.27 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 97018

    Office

    $6.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.71 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 97018

    Office

    $5.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.52 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 97018

    Office

    $5.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.55 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 97018

    Office

    $5.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.71 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 97018

    Office

    $6.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.12 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 97018

    Office

    $5.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 97018

    Office

    $6.26

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 97018

    Office

    $5.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.56 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 97018

    Office

    $6.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.20 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 97018

    Office

    $6.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.11 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 97018

    Office

    $5.68

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.57 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 97018

    Office

    $5.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.46 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 97018

    Office

    $5.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 97018

    Office

    $6.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 97018

    Office

    $5.66

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.59 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 97018

    Office

    $5.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.33 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 97018

    Office

    $5.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.28 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 97018

    Office

    $5.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.31 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 97018

    Office

    $5.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.30 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 97018

    Office

    $6.13

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.12 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 97018

    Office

    $5.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.46 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 97018

    Office

    $5.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.49 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 97018

    Office

    $5.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.40 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 97018

    Office

    $6.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.20 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 97018

    Office

    $5.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.44 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 97018

    Office

    $6.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 97018

    Office

    $6.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.64 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 97018

    Office

    $5.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.62 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 97018

    Office

    $5.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.58 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 97018

    Office

    $5.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.32 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

97018 · 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.

$5.33

$7.10

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$7.101
AL$5.411
AR$5.331
AZ$5.851
CA$6.24–$7.7029
CO$6.201
CT$6.411
DC$6.811
DE$5.941
FL$6.02–$6.673
GA$5.68–$6.142
GU$6.371
HI$6.371
IA$5.501
ID$5.541
IL$5.88–$6.484
IN$5.571
KS$5.491
KY$5.581
LA$5.58–$5.842
MA$6.17–$6.772
MD$6.05–$6.813
ME$5.59–$5.862
MI$5.74–$6.112
MN$5.881
MO$5.50–$5.843
MS$5.411
MT$6.011
NC$5.651
ND$5.811
NE$5.521
NH$6.121
NJ$6.46–$6.752
NM$5.771
NV$5.961
NY$5.73–$7.125
OH$5.701
OK$5.541
OR$5.90–$6.372
PA$5.69–$6.262
PR$6.051
RI$6.141
SC$5.681
SD$5.791
TN$5.521
TX$5.66–$6.198
UT$5.761
VA$5.85–$6.812
VI$6.051
VT$5.811
WA$6.15–$6.892
WI$5.631
WV$5.671
WY$5.931

Explore 97018 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

El Centro is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 18 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 →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 97018 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$6.88

$6.25 × 110% = $6.88

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 97018 in El Centro.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

12,847

Code
97018
Physician work
0.06
Practice expense
0.11
Malpractice
0.01

GPCI2026.csv

10

Locality
El Centro
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.541
Office / nonfacility calculation for 97018 in El Centro
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.06× 1.0170.0610
Practice expense0.11× 1.0960.1206
Malpractice0.01× 0.5410.0054
Total RVUs0.1870
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$6.25

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

Open 97018 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.061.017
Practice expense0.111.096
Malpractice0.010.541

(0.06 × 1.017 + 0.11 × 1.096 + 0.01 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $6.25

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

97018 · Office / nonfacility

$6.25

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.14 lower than on 2025-10-01, moving from $6.39 to $6.25 (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

    $6.39changed to$6.25

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.570 changed to 0.541

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $6.39

    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$6.25Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$6.25Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$6.25Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$6.25Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$6.39Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$6.39Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$6.39Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$6.39Not available in this settingRVU25A

97018 billing questions

When should 97018 be chosen over hot or cold packs?

Use 97018 when paraffin wax is the heat-delivery method. Hot or cold packs are reported with 97010 when packs, rather than a paraffin bath, provide the modality.

Is 97018 reported per 15 minutes?

The code represents paraffin bath therapy and is not a 15-minute timed modality code. Do not calculate units from the timed structure used by codes such as 97034.

Can therapeutic exercise be reported in the same visit?

Yes, when the therapist separately provides and documents skilled therapeutic exercise. The paraffin modality alone does not describe that exercise.

Should modifier 26 be appended?

No. CMS identifies 97018 as a therapy service for which the professional-component modifier does not apply.

What documentation supports reporting 97018?

Record the treated body area, the condition or functional problem prompting heat, and that paraffin therapy was administered. Document separately any distinct skilled treatment performed during the encounter.

How does the therapy multiple procedure reduction affect 97018?

When multiple therapy units are reported on the same day, CMS reduces practice expense for the second and later units. The reduction concerns practice expense, not a change in the service documented.

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 97018PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 12,847 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for El CentroGPCI2026.csv, line 10 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet