Billing code 77790: Radiation handlingMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports technical radiation-handling and physics work associated with therapeutic radioactive sources, such as source-related work during brachytherapy.
Medicare pays $17.03–$19.67 for 77790 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. 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 77790 covers
Radiation handling and physics work supports therapeutic use of radioactive sources, commonly in brachytherapy. The radiation oncology team, including medical physicists and other qualified technical staff, performs source-related technical tasks and radiation-safety work around treatment. This service is distinct in purpose from placing an applicator or delivering a particular brachytherapy technique.
Report 77790 when the record identifies radiation-handling or physics work performed, rather than relying only on the presence of a brachytherapy procedure. Documentation should connect the technical work to the radioactive source and treatment, and identify the date and personnel involved. CMS classifies 77790 as technical-component-only; interpretation is represented by a separate code. The treatment application or delivery code describes the brachytherapy procedure itself, while 77790 represents the radiation-handling service.
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 77790 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$17.03 to $19.67
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $19.67 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $17.03 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $18.40 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $18.54 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $18.37 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $18.46 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $18.83 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $17.72 | Unavailable |
How the 77790 rate is calculated
Each of 77790’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 · 77790
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.00Practice expense 0.54Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 77790
The CMS indicators that decide how 77790 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 77790
Radiation handling
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 3 | Technical component only. |
77790 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
77790 vs 77761 vs 77767 vs 77770: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 77761Intracavitary brachytherapy
- 77761 describes a simple intracavitary radiation application. Use 77790 for documented technical source-handling or physics work, not for the application itself.
- 77767Skin brachytherapy
- 77767 describes HDR skin-surface brachytherapy. It identifies a treatment modality, whereas 77790 represents radiation-handling and physics work.
- 77770HDR brachytherapy
- 77770 describes HDR interstitial or intracavitary brachytherapy. Choose it for the treatment service; 77790 represents separately documented technical handling work.
77790 billing questions
Should 77790 be reported instead of a brachytherapy application code?
No. Codes such as 77761 describe an intracavitary application, while 77790 represents technical radiation-handling and physics work. The record should support the service represented by each code.
Does 77790 include interpretation?
No. CMS classifies 77790 as technical-component-only, with interpretation represented by a separate code.
What documentation supports 77790?
Document the source-related handling or physics work performed, its connection to treatment, and the date and personnel involved. A brachytherapy procedure alone does not describe the handling work.
Can 77790 be reported with a brachytherapy treatment code?
It may be reported with a related brachytherapy procedure when the record supports the radiation-handling service as well as the treatment application or delivery. Do not infer the handling work solely from the treatment code.
Does 77790 have a professional component?
No. CMS identifies 77790 as technical-component-only; interpretation is covered by a separate code.
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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