Billing code 93886: Intracranial DopplerMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports a complete transcranial Doppler examination of intracranial arteries, such as for monitoring cerebral vasospasm or assessing intracranial blood flow.
Medicare pays $248.29–$283.37 for 93886 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 93886 covers
A complete transcranial Doppler study evaluates blood-flow signals in intracranial arteries using ultrasound. A vascular laboratory sonographer commonly performs the acquisition, with a qualified physician interpreting the findings. Clinical uses include monitoring for cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage and evaluating intracranial blood flow in patients with suspected cerebrovascular disease or sickle cell disease.
Report 93886 when the documented examination covers a complete intracranial study; use 93888 when the performed study is limited. The report should identify the clinical indication, vessels or acoustic windows assessed, and interpretation. The code may be billed globally or split into the professional interpretation with modifier 26 and the technical service with modifier TC. The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component, so it affects the TC portion when applicable.
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 93886 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
$248.29 to $283.37
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $283.37 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $248.29 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $267.32 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $268.77 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $266.43 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $267.94 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $269.58 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $257.48 | Unavailable |
How the 93886 rate is calculated
Each of 93886’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 · 93886
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.88Practice expense 7.11Malpractice 0.09
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 93886
The CMS indicators that decide how 93886 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 93886
Intracranial Doppler
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 6 | Diagnostic cardiovascular reduction applies to the technical component. |
| 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 | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
93886 without 26 · national office
$269.88
Intracranial Doppler
93886-26 · Professional component
$45.43
Pays only the interpretation and report.
93886 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
93886 vs 93888 vs 93880 vs 93892: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 93888Intracranial limited study
- 93888 is for a limited intracranial examination; 93886 represents a complete study. Base the choice on the scope actually performed and documented.
- 93880Carotid duplex
- 93880 evaluates extracranial carotid arteries bilaterally, while 93886 evaluates intracranial arteries with transcranial Doppler.
- 93892Tcd emboli detect w/o inj
- 93892 is specifically for transcranial Doppler emboli detection without injection; 93886 reports the complete intracranial study rather than that emboli-detection protocol.
93886 billing questions
How do I choose between 93886 and 93888?
Use 93886 for a complete intracranial Doppler examination and 93888 for a limited study. The documented scope of the examination should support the selection.
Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Which portion is subject to the multiple procedure reduction?
The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component. It affects the TC portion when that component is billed.
Can 93880 be reported on the same date?
It may be reported when a separate extracranial bilateral carotid study is also performed and documented. The intracranial Doppler examination does not describe that extracranial study.
Does 93886 include emboli detection?
93886 describes a complete intracranial Doppler examination. Use 93892 when the service includes a separately performed transcranial Doppler emboli-detection study without injection.
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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