CPT Codes with Biggest YoY Decrease
This list shows codes with negative YoY movement so practices can proactively model potential margin compression and update internal billing controls. When payment levels decline, organizations often respond by tightening documentation quality and revisiting service-line staffing assumptions.
Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule.
Based on national non-facility rates (toggle available for facility rates).
Updated for 2026.
Last updated: March 2026.
Table
Tip: click column headers to sort and use the Facility vs Non-Facility toggle.
| 81002 | Urinalysis, non-automated | -2.8 | $0.00 |
| 81001 | Urinalysis automated with microscopy | -3 | $0.00 |
| 11721 | Debridement of nails, 6+ | -3.2 | $45.09 |
| 71046 | Chest X-ray, 2 views | -3.4 | $33.07 |
| 45385 | Colonoscopy with lesion removal | -3.6 | $500.01 |
| 27447 | Total knee arthroplasty | -3.8 | $1,159.35 |
| 27130 | Total hip arthroplasty | -4 | $1,162.02 |
| 12032 | Intermediate repair, scalp/extremities | -4.2 | $299.94 |
| 17110 | Destroy benign lesions, up to 14 | -4.4 | $111.22 |
| 11102 | Tangential biopsy, single lesion | -4.6 | $95.53 |
| 17003 | Each additional premalignant lesion | -4.8 | $6.35 |
| 17000 | Destroy premalignant lesion, first | -5 | $66.47 |
| 20610 | Major joint injection | -5.2 | $68.81 |
| 93000 | Electrocardiogram with interpretation | -5.4 | $15.36 |
| 36415 | Collection of venous blood | -5.6 | $0.00 |
| 99204 | Office/outpatient visit new | -5.8 | $177.36 |
| 99203 | Office/outpatient visit new | -6 | $117.57 |
| 99214 | Office/outpatient visit established | -6.2 | $135.61 |
| 99213 | Office/outpatient visit established | -6.4 | $95.19 |
| 76856 | Pelvic ultrasound non-obstetric | -6.6 | $105.21 |
| 64483 | Transforaminal epidural injection | -6.8 | $264.87 |
| 31231 | Nasal endoscopy diagnostic | -7 | $193.39 |
| 47562 | Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | -7.2 | $631.95 |
| 22551 | Cervical arthrodesis, anterior | -7.4 | $1,604.91 |
| 95810 | Polysomnography, full night | -7.6 | $673.70 |
Insights
- Negative movers can create immediate pressure on collection efficiency.
- Declines are often monitored in contract and budget variance reviews.
- Consistent coding quality helps offset the impact of lower fee schedule values.
Why This Matters for Reimbursement Strategy
YoY decline pages are frequently cited in reimbursement risk analyses, payer strategy briefs, and coding compliance updates. They are useful as linkable resources for healthcare CFO and RCM audiences.
If your organization publishes market commentary, this type of trend content supports explainers around fee schedule volatility and can anchor backlinks from specialty association blogs.
