CPT code 24220: Arthrographic injection, elbow joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $186.38 for 24220 nationally in the office and $56.11 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $164.63–$250.63.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 24220 covers

For code 24220, a clinician places contrast into the elbow joint space to outline its structures during arthrographic imaging. Radiologists and orthopedic clinicians commonly perform the injection in an imaging department or procedure setting. The resulting study may use radiographs or cross-sectional imaging to evaluate the joint. This is an imaging-preparation injection, not a therapeutic injection intended to treat elbow pain or inflammation.

Report the injection when the record supports intra-articular contrast placement for an elbow arthrogram, including the joint treated, laterality, and imaging purpose. The associated imaging service, such as elbow arthrography, is reported separately when performed and documented. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery payment 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 24220 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

24220 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 24220 rate is calculated

Each of 24220’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 24220

The CMS indicators that decide how 24220 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

24220 compared with similar codes

How to choose

73085Contrast X-rayElbow arthrography

24220 reports contrast injection into the elbow joint; 73085 reports the radiographic arthrography study.

24200Foreign body removalUpper arm or elbow, subcutaneous

24200 reports removal of a subcutaneous foreign body from the upper arm or elbow, not an arthrographic injection.

24201Foreign body removalDeep upper arm or elbow

24201 reports removal of a deep foreign body from the upper arm or elbow; 24220 prepares the elbow joint for arthrographic imaging.

Codes related to 24220

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates