Skin cancer rates continue to increase, with the American Dermatology Association most recently estimating that one in five Americans will experience skin cancer in their lifetime.

As skin cancer rates rise, so does the demand for non-invasive skin cancer treatment options. Superficial radiation (SRT) technology provides an alternative to traditional Mohs surgery, giving patients an option to skip the scalpel and trust an alternative option that uses low-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells.

Patients undergo a series of quick treatment sessions with SRT to treat non-melanoma skin cancer, all without requiring surgery, anesthesia, or follow up reconstruction. Studies show that SRT technology can deliver freedom from recurrence rates of 99%+ at all stages of skin cancer.

Growing adoption, as well as the overall increase in demand for SRT technology, led to a shift in the CMS standards for 2026 for the technology. Within the new standards, SRT technology from Sensus Healthcare is now identified as a standalone treatment modality.

How do the 2026 CMS standards impact reimbursement for non-invasive skin cancer treatment options?

The changes introduce a dedicated suite of codes for SRT that focus on simulation, ultrasound guidance, and treatment delivery. As such, reimbursement rates for SRT technology from Sensus Healthcare has increased by more than 300 percent.

For providers, clarity in reimbursement provides several opportunities for using SRT technology. The more predictable reimbursement path reduces administrative friction for leveraging the non-invasive skin cancer treatment option with patients.

For patients, the clarity around how to bill for SRT technology means they can rely on SRT technology with confidence – knowing that it will be accepted as a treatment option for their skin cancer treatment. It provides an additional option for patients to detect and treat non-melanoma skin cancer and keloids.

How do the new 2026 standards change the way that clinicians bill for image-guided SRT and ultrasound?

Beyond changing the actual code numbers for SRT technology, the 2026 CMS standards impact how providers should document treatment protocols for SRT technology. The more specific codes require a different approach for documenting treatment plans.

The new CMS codes are specific to SRT technology, whether treating for non-melanoma skin cancer or keloids. When billing for a treatment plan for patient, there are four key codes that clinicians should be aware:

• SRT treatment delivery (less than or equal to 150 kilovoltage (kV) X rays) (code 77437), which is billable per lesion per fraction
• Treatment planning and simulation-aided field setting for SRT (code 77436) which is billable per lesion per fraction
• Ultrasound imaging to guide placement of SRT fields (code 77439), which is billable for ultrasound once per course of treatment
• Ongoing medical physics consultation (code 77336), which is billable for physic oversight, once per week

The dedicated codes for SRT technology simplifies the billing process for providers. Previously, SRT technology would be billed under more general radiation oncology codes. Treatment via SRT technology includes simulation, ultrasound guidance, and treatment delivery. Without clarity on how they fit into the treatment plan, it resulted in an increased risk for denials in the reimbursement process.

However, now with clarity around how to bill for SRT treatment, it makes it easier for clinicians to code treatment, while helping to reduce the number of denials due to improper code use or bundling treatment in a way that did not align with the existing code structure.

What are three critical areas clinics need to adapt right now to avoid delayed reimbursement?

The 2026 CMS code changes went into place on January 1, 2026. The code changes have been adapted by private insurers and have become the gold standard for billing for SRT technology.

Given these changes, clinics need to:

• Review the codes that are being used for SRT treatment plans. Providers should ensure that they have updated their processes to include the new dedicated codes for SRT technology for the entire treatment protocol for patients.
• Update documentation practices. Documentation needs to align with each of the four specific codes for SRT technology. In addition, it’s important for providers to understand the frequency at which they can bill for each of the codes during a treatment plan for a patient.
• Audit code usage. Review the codes that have been used for treatment plans thus far. Ensure that the right codes are being used, and the aspects of treatment are being billed to the new codes. These codes reflect an updated way to bill, so extra attention can be beneficial.

With a focus in these three areas, clinicians can bill for SRT technology with confidence. Clarity in billing means less denials and streamlined reimbursement. Four dedicated codes for SRT technology helps increase reimbursement rates. But, it does require an understanding of how to use the codes and when during a non-invasive skin cancer treatment plan with SRT technology.   

What benefits will patients experience with the shifts in the 2026 CMS standards?

Patients have options with broader adoption of SRT technology. For some patients, SRT technology may be a better option for skin cancer treatment or to manage keloids. SRT may be the most effective skin cancer treatment option for older Americans. Aging skin tends to be less elastic. And, recovery from surgery can be more challenging in older patients. As such, choosing a non-invasive skin cancer treatment option like SRT technology may be the best solution.

For skin cancer that appears in certain areas, like on the face, nose, or even leg, SRT technology offers a treatment option that can remove the lesion without the need for potential reconstruction treatment.

Non-invasive skin cancer treatment options can be the best option for many people with skin cancer. Increased awareness and adoption of the technology gives patients the opportunity to speak with their dermatologists about what may be the best solution for their specific case and understand the benefit that using a technology like SRT may provide.

For SRT technology, the 2026 CMS coding changes are just the beginning. The technology continues to experience widespread global adoption. More education, clear treatment protocols, and higher reimbursement rates give the dermatology industry an option that helps to advance treatment options while improving the patient experience.

Go deeper into the 2026 CMS standards and impact on non-invasive skin cancer treatment! Read CEO Joe Sardano’s article in Healthcare Business Today.