$20.08
95970 describes analysis without programming. Use 95976 when simple programming of a cranial nerve neurostimulator is performed.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
95976 Stimulator programming Medicare reimbursement rates in Colorado
Report simple programming of an implanted cranial nerve neurostimulator, commonly a vagus nerve stimulator adjusted during epilepsy care. Compare 95976 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 95976 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
$38.71
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Colorado
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$31.96
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Colorado
One mapped payment locality.
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.
Neurostimulation
About 95976: Simple cranial nerve stimulator programming
Report simple programming of an implanted cranial nerve neurostimulator, commonly a vagus nerve stimulator adjusted during epilepsy care.
Code 95976 covers a programming visit for an implanted cranial nerve neurostimulator, most commonly a vagus nerve stimulator used to manage epilepsy. The clinician interrogates the pulse generator, reviews device function and settings, and makes a simple adjustment to the stimulation program. Neurologists and epileptologists commonly perform this work in an outpatient neurology or epilepsy clinic; programming may also occur in a hospital setting when clinically needed.
Report 95976 when simple programming is performed on a cranial nerve device. Documentation should identify the device, the programming performed, settings assessed or changed, and the clinical reason for adjustment. The analysis needed to carry out programming is part of this service, rather than a separate 95970 line for the same work. Use 95970 when the device is analyzed without programming, and 95977 for complex cranial nerve programming. CMS assigns work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs to the service; FeeBase displays payment rates separately.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.71 · 62%
- Practice expense (office) RVU0.37 · 32%
- Malpractice RVU0.06 · 5%
15.1K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1251 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.
95976 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Colorado, from the same CMS release.
$51.61
95977 is the complex-programming sibling for a cranial nerve neurostimulator; 95976 represents the simple programming level.
$51.65
95971 is for simple programming of a spinal or peripheral nerve neurostimulator. 95976 applies to a cranial nerve device, such as a vagus nerve stimulator.
$52.75
95983 is for programming a brain neurostimulator. Choose 95976 for a cranial nerve neurostimulator instead.
Compare 95976 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
$38.71
Facility
$31.96
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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 95976 in Colorado.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
12,728
- Code
- 95976
- Physician work
- 0.71
- Practice expense
- 0.37
- Malpractice
- 0.06
GPCI2026.csv
37
- Locality
- Colorado
- Physician work
- 1.012
- Practice expense
- 1.064
- Malpractice
- 0.781
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.71 | × 1.012 | 0.7185 |
| Practice expense | 0.37 | × 1.064 | 0.3937 |
| Malpractice | 0.06 | × 0.781 | 0.0469 |
| Total RVUs | 1.1591 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Colorado$38.71
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.71 | 1.012 |
| Practice expense | 0.37 | 1.064 |
| Malpractice | 0.06 | 0.781 |
(0.71 × 1.012 + 0.37 × 1.064 + 0.06 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $38.71
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.71 | 1.012 |
| Practice expense | 0.18 | 1.064 |
| Malpractice | 0.06 | 0.781 |
(0.71 × 1.012 + 0.18 × 1.064 + 0.06 × 0.781) × $33.4009 = $31.96
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.
95976 billing questions
How does 95976 differ from 95977?
Both describe programming of a cranial nerve neurostimulator. Select 95976 for simple programming and 95977 when the documented programming meets the complex level.
Can 95970 also be reported for the same programming session?
The analysis needed to perform the programming is included in 95976. Do not report 95970 separately for that same analysis work.
Which device is most commonly associated with 95976?
A vagus nerve stimulator used in epilepsy care is a common example. The code is for programming a cranial nerve neurostimulator, not a spinal or peripheral nerve stimulator.
Is 95976 based on programming time or individual settings?
It is not described as a timed service or as a per-setting code. Document the programming performed and report the applicable service level.
What documentation supports reporting 95976?
Document the implanted cranial nerve device, the reason for the visit, device assessment, and the programming changes or other programming work performed.
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.
12,72595970,,Alys npgt w/o prgrmg,A,,0.35,0.21,,0.10,,0.03,0.59,0.48,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,72695971,,Alys smpl sp/pn npgt w/prgrm,A,,0.78,0.66,,0.18,,0.07,1.51,1.03,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,72795972,,Alys cplx sp/pn npgt w/prgrm,A,,0.80,0.92,,0.18,,0.07,1.79,1.05,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,72895976,,Alys smpl cn npgt prgrmg,A,,0.71,0.37,,0.18,,0.06,1.14,0.95,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,72995977,,Alys cplx cn npgt prgrmg,A,,0.95,0.49,,0.24,,0.08,1.52,1.27,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,73095980,,Io anal gast n-stim init,A,,0.78,0.27,NA,0.27,,0.19,1.24,1.24,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
12,73195981,,Io anal gast n-stim subsq,A,,0.29,0.96,,0.15,,0.06,1.31,0.50,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
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