Billing code 20979: Bone stimulationMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports externally delivered low-intensity ultrasound treatment intended to support bone healing, such as in a fracture with delayed healing or nonunion.
Medicare pays $53.95–$58.10 for 20979 in the office in Oregon, from Rest Of Oregon to Portland. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 20979 covers
This service uses a treatment transducer placed on the skin over a fracture to deliver low-intensity ultrasound intended to support bone healing. It is used in orthopedic care for situations such as delayed fracture healing or nonunion; the treatment is noninvasive and does not involve surgically placing a stimulator. The clinical record should identify the fracture site and healing problem and show that the ultrasound treatment was performed.
Report 20979 for the ultrasound bone-stimulation service, not for electrical stimulation or a procedure that surgically addresses the bone. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.
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.
Where 20979 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | $58.10 | $26.55 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $53.95 | $25.68 |
How the 20979 rate is calculated
Each of 20979’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 · 20979
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.60Practice expense 0.97Malpractice 0.07
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 20979
The CMS indicators that decide how 20979 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 20979
Bone stimulation
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
20979 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
20979 vs 20974 vs 20975: national Medicare rates
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How to choose
- 20974Bone stimulation
- Choose 20974 for noninvasive electrical stimulation to support bone healing; 20979 is the low-intensity ultrasound modality.
- 20975Bone healing stimulation
- 20975 describes invasive electrical stimulation. 20979 describes ultrasound treatment delivered noninvasively through the skin.
20979 billing questions
How does 20979 differ from 20974?
20979 is for low-intensity ultrasound bone stimulation. 20974 describes noninvasive electrical stimulation for bone healing.
How does 20979 differ from 20975?
20979 uses low-intensity ultrasound delivered through the skin. 20975 describes invasive electrical stimulation for bone healing.
What documentation supports 20979?
Document the fracture site, the delayed healing or nonunion being treated, and that low-intensity ultrasound treatment was performed.
Should modifier 50 be reported for treatment on both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; do not append modifier 50.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed with 20979?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.
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
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