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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

77080 in Merced

Office / nonfacility

$42.29

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.

Radiology

About 77080: Axial skeleton DXA bone density study

Axial DXA measures bone density at central sites such as the lumbar spine or hip for osteoporosis evaluation and treatment monitoring.

Axial DXA uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density at one or more central sites, usually the lumbar spine and proximal femur. It helps evaluate osteoporosis risk and monitor response to treatment. A technologist positions the patient and acquires images in an imaging center, physician office, or hospital outpatient department. A radiologist or another qualified interpreting physician evaluates the results, including applicable T-scores or Z-scores, and signs the report.

Report one unit of 77080 for an axial DXA session, whether one or multiple axial sites are measured. If the same session includes DXA vertebral fracture assessment, report the combined service with 77085 instead. Record the clinical indication, measured sites, and signed interpretation. CMS separately prices the technical component, billed with modifier TC for equipment and staff, and the professional component, billed with modifier 26 for interpretation and report. When one billing entity furnishes both components, report the global service without a component modifier.

CMS billing rules for 77080

Professional and technical components
Diagnostic test with a professional component (modifier 26, interpretation) and a technical component (modifier TC, equipment and staff); billing without a modifier is the global service.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU0.20 · 17%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU0.96 · 81%
  • Malpractice RVU0.02 · 2%

2.9M

Medicare services in 2024 · #61 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.

77080 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Merced, from the same CMS release.

77085

DXA bone density

Axial with fracture assessment

$58.16

Choose 77085 when the session includes both axial bone density measurement and DXA vertebral fracture assessment; 77080 covers the axial density study without that assessment.

77081

Bone density

Appendicular skeleton

$33.88

77081 measures appendicular sites such as the forearm or heel. Choose 77080 for an axial DXA study of sites such as the lumbar spine or hip.

77078

CT bone density

Axial skeleton

$107.35

77078 measures axial bone density using quantitative CT; 77080 uses dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

77086

Vertebral fracture assessment

DXA imaging only

$37.25

77086 describes DXA vertebral fracture assessment without an axial bone density study. When both are performed in the same session, report the combined service with 77085 instead of 77080 and 77086.

The same code, a different location

How does Merced compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 77080 is $42.36—$0.07 higher than the $42.29 rate in Merced. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

77080 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Merced · This locality

    $42.29

  2. Bakersfield

    $42.36

    $0.07 higher than Merced

  3. Chico

    $42.29

    The same base rate than Merced

  4. El Centro

    $42.30

    $0.01 higher than Merced

  5. Fresno

    $42.29

    The same base rate than Merced

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $42.29

    The same base rate than Merced

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

    $45.33

    $3.04 higher than Merced

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, 77080 ranges from $34.57 in Arkansas to $54.01 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

  • Madera

    California · 77080

    Office

    $42.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 77080

    Office

    $42.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 77080

    Office

    $49.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.41 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 77080

    Office

    $45.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.89 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 77080

    Office

    $42.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 77080

    Office

    $42.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 77080

    Office

    $42.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.22 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 77080

    Office

    $44.57

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.28 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 77080

    Office

    $44.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.12 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 77080

    Office

    $45.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.30 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 77080

    Office

    $52.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.54 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 77080

    Office

    $52.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.52 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 77080

    Office

    $54.01

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.72 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 77080

    Office

    $53.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.63 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 77080

    Office

    $43.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.38 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 77080

    Office

    $46.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.85 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 77080

    Office

    $44.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.32 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 77080

    Office

    $46.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.32 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 77080

    Office

    $42.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 77080

    Office

    $49.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.38 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 77080

    Office

    $42.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 77080

    Office

    $42.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 77080

    Office

    $45.56

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.27 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 77080

    Office

    $41.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.54 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 77080

    Office

    $40.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 77080

    Office

    $45.43

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.14 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 77080

    Office

    $44.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.25 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 77080

    Office

    $35.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.17 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 77080

    Office

    $34.57

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.72 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 77080

    Office

    $38.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.97 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 77080

    Office

    $41.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.89 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 77080

    Office

    $42.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.13 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 77080

    Office

    $38.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.30 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 77080

    Office

    $40.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.92 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 77080

    Office

    $38.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.95 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 77080

    Office

    $40.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.21 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 77080

    Office

    $36.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.21 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 77080

    Office

    $43.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.23 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 77080

    Office

    $36.28

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.01 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 77080

    Office

    $36.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.79 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 77080

    Office

    $37.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.76 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 77080

    Office

    $37.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 77080

    Office

    $40.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.45 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 77080

    Office

    $36.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.56 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 77080

    Office

    $36.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 77080

    Office

    $35.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.49 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 77080

    Office

    $37.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.68 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 77080

    Office

    $35.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.59 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 77080

    Office

    $45.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.54 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 77080

    Office

    $41.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.21 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 77080

    Office

    $42.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.27 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 77080

    Office

    $39.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.48 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 77080

    Office

    $36.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.69 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 77080

    Office

    $38.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 77080

    Office

    $38.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.54 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 77080

    Office

    $36.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.58 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 77080

    Office

    $39.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.42 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 77080

    Office

    $37.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.85 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 77080

    Office

    $37.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 77080

    Office

    $34.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.32 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 77080

    Office

    $34.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.51 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 77080

    Office

    $39.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.88 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 77080

    Office

    $37.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.27 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 77080

    Office

    $39.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.27 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 77080

    Office

    $36.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.76 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 77080

    Office

    $40.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.65 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 77080

    Office

    $45.01

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.72 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 77080

    Office

    $42.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.41 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 77080

    Office

    $36.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.40 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 77080

    Office

    $39.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.96 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 77080

    Office

    $46.47

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.18 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 77080

    Office

    $42.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.61 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 77080

    Office

    $45.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.68 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 77080

    Office

    $37.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.68 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 77080

    Office

    $36.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 77080

    Office

    $35.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.46 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 77080

    Office

    $42.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.62 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 77080

    Office

    $39.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.20 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 77080

    Office

    $40.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.31 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 77080

    Office

    $36.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.54 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 77080

    Office

    $39.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.53 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 77080

    Office

    $40.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.76 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 77080

    Office

    $36.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 77080

    Office

    $38.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.32 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 77080

    Office

    $36.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.10 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 77080

    Office

    $41.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.08 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 77080

    Office

    $36.48

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.81 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 77080

    Office

    $39.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.26 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 77080

    Office

    $39.25

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.04 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 77080

    Office

    $38.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.35 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 77080

    Office

    $39.13

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.16 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 77080

    Office

    $39.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 77080

    Office

    $37.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.58 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 77080

    Office

    $37.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.87 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 77080

    Office

    $38.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 77080

    Office

    $39.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.53 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 77080

    Office

    $38.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.53 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 77080

    Office

    $41.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.25 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 77080

    Office

    $46.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.61 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 77080

    Office

    $37.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.69 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 77080

    Office

    $35.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.79 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 77080

    Office

    $39.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.05 lower than Merced for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

77080 · 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.

$34.57

$48.15

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$44.541
AL$35.121
AR$34.571
AZ$38.321
CA$42.29–$54.0129
CO$41.401
CT$42.161
DC$45.561
DE$38.991
FL$38.34–$41.753
GA$36.08–$40.082
GU$43.521
HI$43.521
IA$36.281
ID$36.501
IL$37.00–$40.844
IN$36.731
KS$36.001
KY$35.801
LA$35.70–$37.612
MA$41.08–$45.832
MD$39.81–$45.563
ME$36.60–$38.882
MI$36.71–$38.752
MN$39.871
MO$34.97–$37.883
MS$34.781
MT$39.411
NC$37.021
ND$39.021
NE$36.531
NH$40.641
NJ$42.70–$45.012
NM$36.891
NV$39.331
NY$37.61–$46.475
OH$36.631
OK$35.831
OR$39.09–$42.912
PA$36.75–$40.982
PR$39.761
RI$40.531
SC$36.881
SD$38.971
TN$36.191
TX$36.48–$41.218
UT$37.421
VA$38.67–$45.562
VI$39.761
VT$38.761
WA$41.04–$46.902
WI$37.601
WV$35.501
WY$39.241

Explore 77080 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Merced is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 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 77080 in Merced. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$46.52

$42.29 × 110% = $46.52

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 77080 in Merced.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,007

Code
77080
Physician work
0.20
Practice expense
0.96
Malpractice
0.02

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 77080 in Merced
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.20× 1.0170.2034
Practice expense0.96× 1.0961.0522
Malpractice0.02× 0.5360.0107
Total RVUs1.2663
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Merced$42.29

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

Open 77080 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.21.017
Practice expense0.961.096
Malpractice0.020.536

(0.2 × 1.017 + 0.96 × 1.096 + 0.02 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $42.29

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

77080 · Office / nonfacility

$42.29

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.43 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $40.86 to $42.29 (3.5%).

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

    $40.86changed to$42.29

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • 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: $40.86

    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$42.29Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$42.29Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$42.29Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$42.29Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$40.86Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$40.86Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$40.86Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$40.86Not available in this settingRVU25A

77080 billing questions

Can 77080 be reported with 77086 when vertebral fracture assessment is done on the same day?

For axial DXA with vertebral fracture assessment in the same session, report 77085 rather than 77080 and 77086. Code 77086 describes vertebral fracture assessment performed without an axial bone density study.

How many units are billed if both the spine and both hips are scanned?

One unit. An axial DXA session covers one or more axial sites, so scanning the lumbar spine and both hips remains one service.

Which modifier does the reading physician use when the scan is done at a hospital?

The interpreting physician reports the professional component with modifier 26. The hospital bills the technical portion on its facility claim; an entity furnishing both components reports the global service without a component modifier.

What documentation supports 77080?

The record should identify the reason for the bone density study, the axial sites measured, and the interpreting clinician's signed report.

Is trabecular bone score reported separately from the DXA?

A separately performed trabecular bone score analysis of lumbar spine DXA images may be reported in addition to 77080. Select the appropriate code from 77089–77092 according to the calculation, technical work, and interpretation furnished.

What if only a peripheral site like the forearm is measured?

Report 77081 for appendicular DXA when the study measures a peripheral site without an axial bone density measurement.

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 77080PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,007 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MercedGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet