Both describe remote E/M for a new patient. Choose between them based on the documented time level: 10 minutes for G9481 or 20 minutes for G9482.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
G9481 in El Centro
Office / nonfacility
$17.39
Base rate per service
Facility setting
$17.39
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.
Evaluation and management
About G9481: New-patient remote E/M, 10 minutes
Remote evaluation and management for a new patient at the 10-minute level, reported when a clinician addresses the patient's concern through a remote encounter.
G9481 identifies a remote evaluation and management service for a new patient at the 10-minute level. A physician or other qualified clinician may use the encounter to assess a new symptom, discuss a diagnostic concern, or establish a care plan without an in-person visit. The code distinguishes this service by both patient status and the time level; it is not the established-patient version of remote E/M.
Report the code when documentation supports new-patient status, the remote nature of the encounter, the clinical assessment and plan, and the time level. The supplied CMS PFS record assigns 0.48 work RVUs, 0.06 malpractice RVUs, and zero practice-expense RVUs in both office and facility settings. CMS data show zero reported office and facility services for this code in 2024; that utilization fact is not a coding criterion.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.48 · 89%
- Practice expense (office) RVU0.00 · 0%
- Malpractice RVU0.06 · 11%
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.
G9481 compared with similar codes
Office rates for El Centro, from the same CMS release.
The same code, a different location
How does El Centro compare?
In Bakersfield, the office rate for G9481 is $17.56—$0.17 higher than the $17.39 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.
G9481 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
El Centro · This locality
$17.39
$17.56
$0.17 higher than El Centro
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro
$0.63 higher than El Centro
$17.38
$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, G9481 ranges from $16.63 in Minnesota to $25.15 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 · G9481
Office
$17.38
Facility
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Modesto
California · G9481
Office
$17.38
Facility
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Napa
California · G9481
Office
$18.06
Facility
$18.06
$0.67 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · G9481
Office
$17.73
Facility
$17.73
$0.34 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Redding
California · G9481
Office
$17.38
Facility
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of California
California · G9481
Office
$17.38
Facility
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · G9481
Office
$18.03
Facility
$18.03
$0.64 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · G9481
Office
$17.68
Facility
$17.68
$0.29 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Salinas
California · G9481
Office
$17.60
Facility
$17.60
$0.21 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · G9481
Office
$17.60
Facility
$17.60
$0.21 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · G9481
Office
$18.48
Facility
$18.48
$1.09 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · G9481
Office
$18.41
Facility
$18.41
$1.02 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · G9481
Office
$18.87
Facility
$18.87
$1.48 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · G9481
Office
$18.59
Facility
$18.59
$1.20 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · G9481
Office
$17.38
Facility
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · G9481
Office
$17.44
Facility
$17.44
$0.05 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · G9481
Office
$17.56
Facility
$17.56
$0.17 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · G9481
Office
$17.59
Facility
$17.59
$0.20 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Stockton
California · G9481
Office
$17.38
Facility
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Vallejo
California · G9481
Office
$17.96
Facility
$17.96
$0.57 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Visalia
California · G9481
Office
$17.38
Facility
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Yuba City
California · G9481
Office
$17.38
Facility
$17.38
$0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Dc + Md/Va Suburbs
District of Columbia · G9481
Office
$19.13
Facility
$19.13
$1.74 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Miami
Florida · G9481
Office
$21.10
Facility
$21.10
$3.71 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Chicago
Illinois · G9481
Office
$20.74
Facility
$20.74
$3.35 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Manhattan
New York · G9481
Office
$20.24
Facility
$20.24
$2.85 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Alaska*
Alaska · G9481
Office
$25.15
Facility
$25.15
$7.76 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Alabama
Alabama · G9481
Office
$17.17
Facility
$17.17
$0.22 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Arkansas
Arkansas · G9481
Office
$17.06
Facility
$17.06
$0.33 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Arizona
Arizona · G9481
Office
$17.75
Facility
$17.75
$0.36 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Colorado
Colorado · G9481
Office
$17.79
Facility
$17.79
$0.40 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Connecticut
Connecticut · G9481
Office
$18.78
Facility
$18.78
$1.39 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Delaware
Delaware · G9481
Office
$17.91
Facility
$17.91
$0.52 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · G9481
Office
$19.66
Facility
$19.66
$2.27 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · G9481
Office
$19.04
Facility
$19.04
$1.65 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Atlanta
Georgia · G9481
Office
$18.49
Facility
$18.49
$1.10 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · G9481
Office
$18.42
Facility
$18.42
$1.03 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · G9481
Office
$17.19
Facility
$17.19
$0.20 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Iowa
Iowa · G9481
Office
$16.83
Facility
$16.83
$0.56 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Idaho
Idaho · G9481
Office
$16.98
Facility
$16.98
$0.41 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
East St. Louis
Illinois · G9481
Office
$20.07
Facility
$20.07
$2.68 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · G9481
Office
$19.16
Facility
$19.16
$1.77 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · G9481
Office
$19.70
Facility
$19.70
$2.31 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Indiana
Indiana · G9481
Office
$17.01
Facility
$17.01
$0.38 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Kansas
Kansas · G9481
Office
$17.04
Facility
$17.04
$0.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Kentucky
Kentucky · G9481
Office
$17.87
Facility
$17.87
$0.48 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
New Orleans
Louisiana · G9481
Office
$18.31
Facility
$18.31
$0.92 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · G9481
Office
$17.95
Facility
$17.95
$0.56 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · G9481
Office
$18.47
Facility
$18.47
$1.08 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · G9481
Office
$17.89
Facility
$17.89
$0.50 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · G9481
Office
$18.77
Facility
$18.77
$1.38 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · G9481
Office
$18.03
Facility
$18.03
$0.64 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · G9481
Office
$17.28
Facility
$17.28
$0.11 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Southern Maine
Maine · G9481
Office
$17.30
Facility
$17.30
$0.09 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Detroit
Michigan · G9481
Office
$19.41
Facility
$19.41
$2.02 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · G9481
Office
$18.30
Facility
$18.30
$0.91 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Minnesota
Minnesota · G9481
Office
$16.63
Facility
$16.63
$0.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · G9481
Office
$17.99
Facility
$17.99
$0.60 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · G9481
Office
$18.04
Facility
$18.04
$0.65 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · G9481
Office
$17.98
Facility
$17.98
$0.59 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Mississippi
Mississippi · G9481
Office
$17.51
Facility
$17.51
$0.12 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Montana**
Montana · G9481
Office
$18.03
Facility
$18.03
$0.64 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
North Carolina
North Carolina · G9481
Office
$17.31
Facility
$17.31
$0.08 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · G9481
Office
$16.85
Facility
$16.85
$0.54 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Nebraska
Nebraska · G9481
Office
$16.79
Facility
$16.79
$0.60 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · G9481
Office
$17.79
Facility
$17.79
$0.40 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · G9481
Office
$19.18
Facility
$19.18
$1.79 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · G9481
Office
$18.87
Facility
$18.87
$1.48 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
New Mexico
New Mexico · G9481
Office
$18.44
Facility
$18.44
$1.05 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Nevada**
Nevada · G9481
Office
$17.70
Facility
$17.70
$0.31 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · G9481
Office
$20.78
Facility
$20.78
$3.39 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · G9481
Office
$19.18
Facility
$19.18
$1.79 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Queens
New York · G9481
Office
$19.95
Facility
$19.95
$2.56 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of New York
New York · G9481
Office
$17.44
Facility
$17.44
$0.05 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Ohio
Ohio · G9481
Office
$18.05
Facility
$18.05
$0.66 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · G9481
Office
$17.59
Facility
$17.59
$0.20 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Portland
Oregon · G9481
Office
$17.78
Facility
$17.78
$0.39 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · G9481
Office
$17.44
Facility
$17.44
$0.05 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · G9481
Office
$18.71
Facility
$18.71
$1.32 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · G9481
Office
$17.93
Facility
$17.93
$0.54 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · G9481
Office
$18.01
Facility
$18.01
$0.62 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · G9481
Office
$18.12
Facility
$18.12
$0.73 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
South Carolina
South Carolina · G9481
Office
$17.74
Facility
$17.74
$0.35 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · G9481
Office
$16.71
Facility
$16.71
$0.68 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Tennessee
Tennessee · G9481
Office
$17.11
Facility
$17.11
$0.28 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Austin
Texas · G9481
Office
$17.84
Facility
$17.84
$0.45 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Beaumont
Texas · G9481
Office
$17.89
Facility
$17.89
$0.50 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Brazoria
Texas · G9481
Office
$17.72
Facility
$17.72
$0.33 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Dallas
Texas · G9481
Office
$17.90
Facility
$17.90
$0.51 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Fort Worth
Texas · G9481
Office
$17.92
Facility
$17.92
$0.53 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Galveston
Texas · G9481
Office
$17.82
Facility
$17.82
$0.43 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Houston
Texas · G9481
Office
$18.92
Facility
$18.92
$1.53 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Texas
Texas · G9481
Office
$17.84
Facility
$17.84
$0.45 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Utah
Utah · G9481
Office
$17.83
Facility
$17.83
$0.44 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Virginia
Virginia · G9481
Office
$17.45
Facility
$17.45
$0.06 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · G9481
Office
$18.01
Facility
$18.01
$0.62 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Vermont
Vermont · G9481
Office
$17.05
Facility
$17.05
$0.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · G9481
Office
$17.77
Facility
$17.77
$0.38 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · G9481
Office
$18.47
Facility
$18.47
$1.08 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · G9481
Office
$16.65
Facility
$16.65
$0.74 lower than El Centro for the office setting.
West Virginia
West Virginia · G9481
Office
$18.90
Facility
$18.90
$1.51 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · G9481
Office
$17.52
Facility
$17.52
$0.13 higher than El Centro for the office setting.
See how rates vary across the country
G9481 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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.
$16.63
$25.15
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $25.15 | 1 |
| AL | $17.17 | 1 |
| AR | $17.06 | 1 |
| AZ | $17.75 | 1 |
| CA | $17.38–$18.87 | 29 |
| CO | $17.79 | 1 |
| CT | $18.78 | 1 |
| DC | $19.13 | 1 |
| DE | $17.91 | 1 |
| FL | $19.04–$21.10 | 3 |
| GA | $18.42–$18.49 | 2 |
| GU | $17.19 | 1 |
| HI | $17.19 | 1 |
| IA | $16.83 | 1 |
| ID | $16.98 | 1 |
| IL | $19.16–$20.74 | 4 |
| IN | $17.01 | 1 |
| KS | $17.04 | 1 |
| KY | $17.87 | 1 |
| LA | $17.95–$18.31 | 2 |
| MA | $17.89–$18.47 | 2 |
| MD | $18.03–$19.13 | 3 |
| ME | $17.28–$17.30 | 2 |
| MI | $18.30–$19.41 | 2 |
| MN | $16.63 | 1 |
| MO | $17.98–$18.04 | 3 |
| MS | $17.51 | 1 |
| MT | $18.03 | 1 |
| NC | $17.31 | 1 |
| ND | $16.85 | 1 |
| NE | $16.79 | 1 |
| NH | $17.79 | 1 |
| NJ | $18.87–$19.18 | 2 |
| NM | $18.44 | 1 |
| NV | $17.70 | 1 |
| NY | $17.44–$20.78 | 5 |
| OH | $18.05 | 1 |
| OK | $17.59 | 1 |
| OR | $17.44–$17.78 | 2 |
| PA | $17.93–$18.71 | 2 |
| PR | $18.01 | 1 |
| RI | $18.12 | 1 |
| SC | $17.74 | 1 |
| SD | $16.71 | 1 |
| TN | $17.11 | 1 |
| TX | $17.72–$18.92 | 8 |
| UT | $17.83 | 1 |
| VA | $17.45–$19.13 | 2 |
| VI | $18.01 | 1 |
| VT | $17.05 | 1 |
| WA | $17.77–$18.47 | 2 |
| WI | $16.65 | 1 |
| WV | $18.90 | 1 |
| WY | $17.52 | 1 |
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.
Why are the office and facility amounts different?
For G9481 in El Centro, the physician’s office rate is $17.39 and the facility-setting rate is $17.39: a difference of $0.00.
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.
Use this rate
What is a percentage of Medicare worth?
Turn a percentage into dollars for G9481 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$19.13
$17.39 × 110% = $19.13
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.
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 G9481 in El Centro.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
15,991
- Code
- G9481
- Physician work
- 0.48
- Practice expense
- 0.00
- Malpractice
- 0.06
GPCI2026.csv
10
- Locality
- El Centro
- Physician work
- 1.017
- Practice expense
- 1.096
- Malpractice
- 0.541
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.48 | × 1.017 | 0.4882 |
| Practice expense | 0.00 | × 1.096 | 0.0000 |
| Malpractice | 0.06 | × 0.541 | 0.0325 |
| Total RVUs | 0.5206 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$17.39
Open G9481 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.48 | 1.017 |
| Practice expense | 0 | 1.096 |
| Malpractice | 0.06 | 0.541 |
(0.48 × 1.017 + 0 × 1.096 + 0.06 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $17.39
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.48 | 1.017 |
| Practice expense | 0 | 1.096 |
| Malpractice | 0.06 | 0.541 |
(0.48 × 1.017 + 0 × 1.096 + 0.06 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $17.39
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
G9481 · Office / nonfacility
$17.39
Effective 2026-10-01
The base rate is $0.72 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $16.67 to $17.39 (4.3%).
It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.
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
January 1, 2026
RVU26A
$16.67changed to$17.39
- Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
- Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.06
- 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.
January 1, 2025
RVU25A
Earliest loaded release: $16.67
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
G9481 billing questions
Is G9481 for a new or established patient?
It is the new-patient remote E/M level. The corresponding established-patient series begins with G9486.
How does G9481 differ from G9482?
Both are remote E/M services for new patients; G9481 is the 10-minute level, while G9482 is the 20-minute level.
What documentation supports reporting G9481?
Document the patient's new-patient status, the remote encounter, the concern evaluated, the clinician's assessment and plan, and the time supporting the 10-minute level.
Does the descriptor require a particular remote technology?
The supplied descriptor identifies a remote E/M service but does not specify a platform. Document how the encounter was conducted.
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.
