Recording of the stomach's electrical activity through skin electrodes on the abdomen to evaluate how the stomach muscles are working.
- Medicare
- $485.65
- Work RVU
- 0.51
- Global, days
- Region
- Other
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 2 cited references ↓
- GI symptoms and duration
- Prior workup such as gastric emptying study
- Reason EGG is needed for the treatment decision
- Recording duration and interpretation
- Ordering gastroenterology provider
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 2 cited references ↓
91132 reports electrogastrography (EGG), a noninvasive recording of gastric electrical rhythm through electrodes on the abdomen. It is a GI motility test, ordered by gastroenterology for nausea, vomiting, or suspected gastroparesis.
There is no orthopedic use for this code. The only connection to ortho care is indirect. Patients on long-term opioids after spine or joint surgery can develop delayed gastric emptying, and diabetic patients seen for Charcot foot or ulcers may also carry a gastroparesis diagnosis. If those symptoms come up in an ortho visit, the right step is a referral, not this test.
For billers, 91132 is a global code with professional and technical components (modifiers 26 and TC). It describes the baseline study. The version that adds a provocative test, such as a water load or meal, is 91133, and the two are not billed together. Many commercial payers consider EGG investigational, so prior authorization and coverage checks come first.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
Work RVU vs. total RVU
The work RVU (0.51) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (14.54) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 0.51 |
| Practice expense RVU | 14 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.03 |
| Total RVU | 14.54 |
| Medicare national rate | $485.65 |
| Global period | days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $485.65 |
HOPD (APC 5722) Hospital outpatient department | $220.60 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 91132 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Payer considers EGG investigational
- Billed with 91133 for the same session
- No prior authorization
- Global billed when facility already billed technical component
- Diagnosis does not support a motility study
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 2 cited references ↓
01What is the difference between 91132 and 91133?
02Is electrogastrography covered by insurance?
03Do orthopedic practices bill 91132?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
- 01CMS Physician Fee Schedule 2026
- 02cms.govhttps://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/physician
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe notes GI symptoms and medication side effects patients raise during ortho visits, so referrals to gastroenterology have the history attached.
See how Mira captures CPT 91132 documentation