Billing code 77761: Intracavitary brachytherapyMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports the simple-complexity application of an intracavitary radiation source, such as an applicator used for gynecologic brachytherapy.
Medicare pays $439.42–$495.16 for 77761 in the office in Washington, from Rest Of Washington to Seattle (King Cnty). 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 77761 covers
Code 77761 represents the simple-complexity level of intracavitary brachytherapy source application. A radiation oncologist positions an applicator or source within a body cavity to provide localized radiation. A familiar clinical setting is gynecologic brachytherapy, with an applicator placed in the uterine or cervical region as part of a planned radiation course. The code level reflects application complexity, not the cancer diagnosis or radiation dose.
Select 77761 when the procedure documentation supports simple application rather than the intermediate or complex sibling level. Document the cavity, applicator and source arrangement, procedural details, and basis for the complexity level. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, modifier TC identifies the technical work, and an unmodified claim represents the global service. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery 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 77761 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $439.42 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $495.16 | Unavailable |
How the 77761 rate is calculated
Each of 77761’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 · 77761
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.75Practice expense 8.72Malpractice 0.23
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 77761
77761 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 77761
Intracavitary brachytherapy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are 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) | 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. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.00/0.00/0.00 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 77761
Intracavitary brachytherapy
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
77761 without 26 · national office
$424.19
Intracavitary brachytherapy
77761-26 · Professional component
$201.74
Pays only the interpretation and report.
77761 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
77761 vs 77762 vs 77763 vs 77770: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 77762Intracavitary radiation
- Use 77762 when the intracavitary application is documented at the intermediate level; 77761 is the simple-level sibling.
- 77763Brachytherapy application
- Use 77763 for a documented complex intracavitary application, rather than the simple application represented by 77761.
- 77770HDR brachytherapy
- 77770 describes remote afterloading HDR brachytherapy involving one channel. Choose based on the treatment technique and channel count, not the simple intracavitary application level.
77761 billing questions
How is 77761 distinguished from 77762 or 77763?
These codes represent simple, intermediate, and complex application levels. Use the level supported by the documented procedure; do not select it based only on diagnosis or radiation dose.
Which modifiers identify the professional and technical portions?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical portion involving equipment and staff. The unmodified code represents the global service.
Does the 90-day global period include related follow-up care?
Yes. The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral treatment?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
What documentation supports reporting the simple level?
Document the body cavity, applicator and source arrangement, procedure performed, and clinical details supporting simple rather than intermediate or complex application.
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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