Billing code 97024: DiathermyMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports diathermy used to deliver therapeutic deep heat, such as microwave energy, during rehabilitation for musculoskeletal pain or stiffness.
Medicare pays $7.56–$8.52 for 97024 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 97024 covers
Diathermy applies high-frequency electromagnetic energy to generate heat in targeted tissues. Physical therapists and other rehabilitation professionals may use microwave or another diathermy method as part of care for musculoskeletal pain, muscle spasm, or joint stiffness. Treatment is typically provided in an outpatient rehabilitation setting, with the applicator positioned for the area being treated.
Report 97024 when diathermy is the modality delivered, rather than infrared heat, ultrasound, or a surface hot pack. This is an untimed modality: report one unit for the service, not units accumulated in 15-minute increments. Documentation should identify the treated area, the diathermy modality, and the clinical purpose of treatment. The professional component modifier does not apply. Under the therapy multiple procedure payment reduction, practice expense is reduced for the second and later therapy units on the same day.
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 97024 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $7.56 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $8.52 | Unavailable |
How the 97024 rate is calculated
Each of 97024’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 · 97024
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.06Practice expense 0.15Malpractice 0.01
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 97024
The CMS indicators that decide how 97024 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 97024
Diathermy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 5 | Therapy reduction: practice expense of the second and later units is reduced. |
| 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 | 7 | Therapy service: the split doesn’t apply. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier CQ · payment effect
With and without the modifier
97024 without CQ · national office
$7.35
Diathermy
97024-CQ · Allowed amount unchanged
$7.35
Medicare cuts its own payment by 15% after the patient’s 20% coinsurance; the allowed amount stays the same. On $100 allowed: $20 coinsurance, then Medicare pays $68 instead of $80.
97024 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
97024 vs 97026 vs 97035 vs 97010: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 97026Infrared therapy
- 97024 represents diathermy, including microwave treatment. 97026 is for infrared therapy, a different energy modality.
- 97035Therapeutic ultrasound
- 97035 is for therapeutic ultrasound. Choose 97024 when diathermy is delivered instead.
- 97010Hot or cold packs therapy
- 97010 covers hot or cold packs applied at the surface; 97024 covers treatment with diathermy.
97024 billing questions
How does 97024 differ from infrared therapy?
97024 is for diathermy, such as microwave energy used to produce therapeutic heat. Use 97026 when the modality delivered is infrared.
Is 97024 billed in 15-minute units?
No. It is an untimed modality, so report one unit for the service rather than counting 15-minute increments.
Can a professional component modifier be appended?
No. The CMS therapy-service rule specifies that the professional component modifier does not apply.
What documentation supports 97024?
Document the body area treated, that diathermy was delivered, and its clinical purpose, such as addressing musculoskeletal pain or stiffness.
How does the therapy multiple procedure payment reduction affect 97024?
When it is among the second or later therapy units on the same day, practice expense is reduced under the therapy multiple procedure payment reduction.
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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