$6.30
95044 evaluates contact reactions with skin-applied patches. Use 95052 for photo patch tests involving controlled light exposure to assess photoallergy.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
95044 Patch testing Medicare reimbursement rates in Colorado
Epicutaneous patch tests assess delayed reactions to substances contacting the skin; report one unit for each separate test performed for suspected allergic contact dermatitis. Compare 95044 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Colorado.
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.
What does Medicare pay for 95044 in Colorado?
Colorado has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$5.24
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Colorado
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
No supported rate
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Allergy testing
About 95044: Epicutaneous patch testing for contact allergy
Epicutaneous patch tests assess delayed reactions to substances contacting the skin; report one unit for each separate test performed for suspected allergic contact dermatitis.
Patch testing identifies delayed reactions associated with allergic contact dermatitis. Small amounts of suspected allergens, such as nickel, fragrance mixes, preservatives, rubber accelerators, or topical medications, are applied to the skin under patches, commonly on the upper back. Clinics may use prepared panels or appropriately prepared substances from a patient's own products. Patches generally remain in place for about 48 hours before removal and an initial reading; a later reading helps identify delayed reactions. Dermatologists and allergists commonly order and interpret the tests, while nurses or medical assistants apply the patches in the office.
Report one unit for each separate patch test, not for each strip or panel. A panel with 35 separately applied tests supports 35 units; document the substances tested, test count, and readings. Select patch testing for suspected delayed contact reactions rather than immediate allergy assessed by prick testing. CMS assigns no physician work RVUs to 95044; its relative value reflects practice expense and malpractice. CMS treats it as an incident-to service billed only when performed under physician supervision. A separately reported E/M requires a significant, independently documented evaluation beyond routine testing and interpretation; use modifier 25 on the E/M when both services occur on the same date.
CMS billing rules for 95044
- Professional and technical components
- Incident-to service: billed only when performed under physician supervision.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.00 · 0%
- Practice expense (office) RVU0.14 · 93%
- Malpractice RVU0.01 · 7%
1.3M
Medicare services in 2024 · #121 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.
95044 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Colorado, from the same CMS release.
$3.80
95004 uses percutaneous tests read promptly for immediate allergy, such as reactions to pollens. 95044 uses applied patches read later for delayed contact allergy.
$13.05
Both can assess delayed reactions, but 95028 introduces the test substance intradermally. 95044 applies it to the skin surface.
Compare 95044 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Colorado →
Office / nonfacility
$5.24
Facility
Unavailable
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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 95044 in Colorado.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
12,464
- Code
- 95044
- Physician work
- 0.00
- Practice expense
- 0.14
- Malpractice
- 0.01
GPCI2026.csv
37
- Locality
- Colorado
- Physician work
- 1.012
- Practice expense
- 1.064
- Malpractice
- 0.781
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.00 | × 1.012 | 0.0000 |
| Practice expense | 0.14 | × 1.064 | 0.1490 |
| Malpractice | 0.01 | × 0.781 | 0.0078 |
| Total RVUs | 0.1568 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Colorado$5.24
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0 | 1.012 |
| Practice expense | 0.14 | 1.064 |
| Malpractice | 0.01 | 0.781 |
(0 × 1.012 + 0.14 × 1.064 + 0.01 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $5.24
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.
95044 billing questions
How many units of 95044 are reported?
Report one unit per separate patch test, not per strip or panel. Document each substance and test site so the unit count can be verified.
Are patch removal and delayed readings billed separately?
No. Removal and readings are part of the patch testing service; routine interpretation of the results does not by itself support a separate E/M.
Can an E/M be billed on the day patches are applied?
Yes, if a significant, separately identifiable evaluation is documented beyond the work associated with testing. Append modifier 25 to the E/M reported on the same date.
Why does 95044 have no physician work RVUs?
CMS values 95044 through practice expense and malpractice RVUs and treats it as an incident-to service billed only when performed under physician supervision. A separate E/M is reported only when its own documentation and service requirements are met.
When should photo patch testing be reported instead?
When patches are used with controlled light exposure to investigate photoallergic contact dermatitis, report the photo patch tests with 95052 rather than 95044.
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.
12,46195024,,Iq tests w/allergenic xtrcs,A,,0.01,0.21,,0.01,,0.01,0.23,0.03,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,46295027,,Iq tsts seql&incrl airborne,A,,0.01,0.12,,0.12,NA,0.01,0.14,0.14,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,46395028,,Iq tsts allergy delayed rxn,A,,0.00,0.36,,0.36,NA,0.01,0.37,0.37,3,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,46495044,,Patch/application tests,A,,0.00,0.14,,0.14,NA,0.01,0.15,0.15,5,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,46595052,,Photo patch tests,A,,0.00,0.17,,0.17,NA,0.01,0.18,0.18,5,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,46695056,,Photo tests,A,,0.00,1.53,,1.53,NA,0.02,1.55,1.55,5,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,46795060,,Oph mucous membrane tests,A,,0.00,1.21,,1.21,NA,0.01,1.22,1.22,3,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,03,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3401112,CA,69,VISALIA,1.017,1.096,0.536
3501112,CA,70,YUBA CITY,1.017,1.096,0.536
3601112,CA,75,REST OF CALIFORNIA,1.017,1.096,0.536
3704112,CO,01,COLORADO,1.012,1.064,0.781
3813102,CT,00,CONNECTICUT,1.020,1.077,1.210
3912202,DC,01,DC + MD/VA SUBURBS,1.054,1.178,1.113
4012102,DE,01,DELAWARE,1.005,0.988,0.899