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Billing code 77071: Stress radiographsMedicare rate & RVUs in Merced

Reports the professional interpretation of manually stressed joint radiographs used to assess instability or ligamentous laxity, including comparison views when obtained.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality8.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Merced, Medicare pays $61.70 for 77071 in the office and $61.70 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$61.70Office (non-facility)
$61.70Hospital or facility
+5.6%vs the national office rate ($58.45)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 77071 nationwide

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

We’ll open 77071 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Merced
  2. What 77071 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 77071 covers

77071 covers the professional interpretation and report of radiographs taken while manual stress is applied to a joint. Stress views can help assess abnormal joint opening or movement associated with instability or ligament injury. Ankle, knee, and wrist studies are familiar examples. Orthopedic or sports-medicine evaluations may lead to the examination, with a radiologist or other qualified practitioner providing the formal interpretation. Comparison views, when obtained, are part of the stress examination.

Report the code for the interpretation and report, not for image acquisition; CMS identifies a separate code for the technical portion. The report should identify the joint examined and describe the findings from the stress views. CMS prices this code as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. When both sides are examined, the bilateral pricing is already reflected in the code’s payment treatment.

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.

How Merced compares for 77071

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 77071 runs from $51.29 in Arkansas to $77.73 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). Merced pays $61.70. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

77071 in Merced vs other payment areas
  1. Merced · this page$61.70
  2. Bakersfield · California$61.90+$0.20
  3. Chico · California$61.70
  4. El Centro · California$61.71+$0.01
  5. Fresno · California$61.70
  6. Hanford-Corcoran · California$61.70
  7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) · California$66.04+$4.34

Other areas in California first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

77071 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
MaderaCalifornia$61.70$61.70
ModestoCalifornia$61.70$61.70
NapaCalifornia$71.74$71.74
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-VenturaCalifornia$65.73$65.73
ReddingCalifornia$61.70$61.70
Rest Of CaliforniaCalifornia$61.70$61.70
Riverside-San Bernardino-OntarioCalifornia$62.45$62.45
Sacramento-Roseville-FolsomCalifornia$64.82$64.82

77071 rates by state

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

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.

$51.29

$69.72

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

View every state and territory as a table
77071 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$66.861
AL$52.091
AR$51.291
AZ$56.791
CA$61.70–$77.7329
CO$60.841
CT$62.501
DC$67.051
DE$57.771
FL$57.75–$63.783
GA$54.28–$59.652
GU$63.321
HI$63.321
IA$53.411
ID$53.801
IL$56.05–$61.794
IN$54.131
KS$53.191
KY$53.511
LA$53.44–$56.252
MA$60.46–$67.042
MD$58.91–$67.053
ME$54.15–$57.202
MI$55.03–$58.562
MN$58.051
MO$52.49–$56.403
MS$51.901
MT$58.451
NC$54.741
ND$57.061
NE$53.711
NH$59.911
NJ$63.15–$66.292
NM$55.371
NV$58.101
NY$55.62–$69.395
OH$54.751
OK$53.361
OR$57.59–$62.812
PA$54.82–$60.902
PR$58.891
RI$59.861
SC$54.851
SD$56.901
TN$53.481
TX$54.44–$60.698
UT$55.651
VA$57.04–$67.052
VI$58.891
VT$56.871
WA$60.33–$68.402
WI$55.041
WV$53.861
WY$57.841

See 77071 in every payment locality

How the 77071 rate is calculated

Each of 77071’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 · 77071

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work0.40

0.40 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.28

1.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.7500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$58.45

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Merced inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

8,985

Code
77071
Physician work
0.40
Practice expense
1.28
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office calculation for 77071 in Merced
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.40× 1.0170.4068
Practice expense1.28× 1.0961.4029
Malpractice0.07× 0.5360.0375
Total RVUs1.8472
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Merced$61.70

Office: (0.4 × 1.017 + 1.28 × 1.096 + 0.07 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $61.70

Facility: (0.4 × 1.017 + 1.28 × 1.096 + 0.07 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $61.70

Open 77071 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 77071

The CMS indicators that decide how 77071 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 77071

Stress radiographs

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)2Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical2Professional component only.

Codes related to 77071

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 77071
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Merced
Used instead
77077Joint surveyA single-view joint survey is a different examination from manually stressed joint radiographs.$50.58
73610Ankle X-rayRoutine ankle radiographs use this code when standard views, rather than stress views, are performed.$39.81
73562Knee X-rayRoutine three-view knee radiographs are distinct from manually stressed knee views.$45.64

How 77071 has changed in Merced

77071 · Office / nonfacility

$61.70

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $6.15 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $55.55 to $61.70 (11.1%).

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

    $55.55changed to$61.70

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.41 changed to 0.40
    • Practice expense RVU 1.16 changed to 1.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07
    • 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

    $57.71changed to$55.55

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.17 changed to 1.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. October 1, 2024

    RVU24D

    $58.98changed to$57.71

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.2875
    • Practice expense RVU 1.16 changed to 1.17
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.027 changed to 1.014
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.065 changed to 1.093
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.597 changed to 0.560

  4. July 1, 2022

    RVU22C

    $57.93changed to$58.98

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.13 changed to 1.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.08

  5. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $55.83changed to$57.93

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.01 changed to 1.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.027
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.070 changed to 1.065
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.580 changed to 0.597

    Held through RVU21B.

  6. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $53.26changed to$55.83

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.95 changed to 1.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.024
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.074 changed to 1.070
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.562 changed to 0.580

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  7. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $50.88changed to$53.26

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.89 changed to 0.95

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  8. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $51.06changed to$50.88

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.079 changed to 1.074
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.610 changed to 0.562

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  9. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    No ratechanged to$51.06

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  10. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$61.70$61.70RVU26D
2026-07-01$61.70$61.70RVU26C
2026-04-01$61.70$61.70RVU26B
2026-01-01$61.70$61.70RVU26A
2025-10-01$55.55$55.55RVU25D
2025-07-01$55.55$55.55RVU25C
2025-04-01$55.55$55.55RVU25B
2025-01-01$55.55$55.55RVU25A
2024-10-01$57.71$57.71RVU24D
2022-07-01$58.98$58.98RVU22C
2021-04-01$57.93$57.93RVU21B
2021-01-01$57.93$57.93RVU21A
2020-10-01$55.83$55.83RVU20D
2020-07-01$55.83$55.83RVU20C
2020-04-01$55.83$55.83RVU20B
2020-01-01$55.83$55.83RVU20A
2019-10-01$53.26$53.26RVU19D
2019-07-01$53.26$53.26RVU19C
2019-04-01$53.26$53.26RVU19B
2019-01-01$53.26$53.26RVU19A
2018-10-01$50.88$50.88RVU18D
2018-07-01$50.88$50.88RVU18C
2018-04-01$50.88$50.88RVU18B
2018-01-01$50.88$50.88RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$51.06$51.06RVU17D
2017-07-01$51.06$51.06RVU17C
2017-04-01$51.06$51.06RVU17B
2017-01-01$51.06$51.06RVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 77071 for an earlier date of service

Where the Merced rate applies

Merced is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in California

77071 billing questions

Is 77071 for the images or the interpretation?

It represents the professional interpretation and report. The technical portion is covered by a separate code.

Should modifier 50 be appended for both sides?

CMS prices 77071 as bilateral, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.

Are comparison views separately reported?

Comparison views, when performed, are included in the stress examination described by 77071.

Can routine ankle or knee radiographs also be reported?

77071 describes manually stressed joint views, not routine nonstress radiographs. A separate routine examination requires its own documentation and code.

What documentation supports 77071?

Document the joint examined, that stress views were obtained, and the interpretation and findings. The professional report supports this code; image acquisition is represented separately.

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
RVUs for 77071PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,985 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MercedGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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