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CPT code 62290: Discography, lumbar level injection2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports contrast injection into lumbar intervertebral discs to assess disc structure and help evaluate suspected disc-related low back pain.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.6K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $423.26 for 62290 in the office and $155.31 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$423.26Office (non-facility)
$155.31Hospital or facility
+14.4%vs the national office rate ($370.08)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 62290 nationwide

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

We’ll open 62290 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 62290 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 62290 covers

A clinician places a needle into one or more lumbar intervertebral discs and injects contrast while imaging guides the procedure. The resulting disc appearance and the patient’s response can help evaluate a suspected discogenic source of persistent axial low back pain. Radiologists and interventional spine or pain specialists commonly perform discography in office or facility settings as part of diagnostic workup and treatment planning.

Report the service for each lumbar disc level injected; documentation should identify the levels, needle placement, contrast injection, and findings. When separately performed and documented, the radiological supervision and interpretation service is represented by 72295. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons and team surgery 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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 62290

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 62290 runs from $328.71 in Arkansas to $493.30 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $423.26. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

62290 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$423.26
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$419.40−$3.86
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$394.17−$29.09
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$383.33−$39.93
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$424.13+$0.87
  6. Alaska · Alaska$432.24+$8.98
  7. Alabama · Alabama$333.37−$89.89

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

62290 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$328.71$133.32
ArizonaArizona$360.66$140.25
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$393.85$144.55
Chico, CACalifornia$393.02$143.72
El Centro, CACalifornia$393.06$143.76
Fresno, CACalifornia$393.02$143.72
Hanford, CACalifornia$393.02$143.72
Madera, CACalifornia$393.02$143.72

62290 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$328.71

$443.16

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
62290 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$432.241
AL$333.371
AR$328.711
AZ$360.661
CA$393.02–$493.3029
CO$386.221
CT$394.161
DC$423.261
DE$366.531
FL$362.85–$394.173
GA$343.29–$376.342
GU$402.531
HI$402.531
IA$342.451
ID$344.421
IL$352.04–$384.594
IN$346.381
KS$340.481
KY$340.091
LA$339.41–$355.712
MA$383.85–$424.262
MD$373.51–$423.263
ME$345.72–$364.512
MI$348.27–$366.822
MN$371.611
MO$333.49–$357.453
MS$331.181
MT$370.061
NC$349.291
ND$364.921
NE$344.391
NH$379.801
NJ$399.08–$419.002
NM$349.951
NV$368.901
NY$354.33–$433.605
OH$347.221
OK$339.951
OR$366.45–$398.682
PA$347.99–$384.322
PR$372.851
RI$379.701
SC$348.751
SD$364.321
TN$342.081
TX$345.75–$384.578
UT$353.381
VA$363.05–$423.262
VI$372.851
VT$363.161
WA$383.25–$433.212
WI$353.001
WV$339.301
WY$367.821

See 62290 in every payment locality

How the 62290 rate is calculated

Each of 62290’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 · 62290

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.93

2.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.89

7.89 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.26

0.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.0800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$370.08

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,956

Code
62290
Physician work
2.93
Practice expense
7.89
Malpractice
0.26

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 62290 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.93× 1.0543.0882
Practice expense7.89× 1.1789.2944
Malpractice0.26× 1.1130.2894
Total RVUs12.6720
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$423.26

Office: (2.93 × 1.054 + 7.89 × 1.178 + 0.26 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $423.26

Facility: (2.93 × 1.054 + 1.08 × 1.178 + 0.26 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $155.31

Open 62290 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 62290

The CMS indicators that decide how 62290 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 62290

Discography, lumbar level injection

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

62290 without 51 · national office

$370.08

Discography, lumbar level injection

62290-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$185.04

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 62290

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

Codes related to 62290
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
62291Discography, cervical or thoracicDiscography injection for cervical or thoracic levels rather than lumbar levels.$385.11
Often billed with
72295Discography imaging, lumbar spineReports radiological supervision and interpretation for lumbar discography when performed.$140.54
Used instead
62267Disc aspiration, diagnostic lumbar samplingA diagnostic intradiscal procedure involving aspiration rather than contrast discography.$292.08

How 62290 has changed in Washington, DC area

62290 · Office / nonfacility

$423.26

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $46.38 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $376.88 to $423.26 (12.3%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $376.88changed to$423.26

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.00 changed to 2.93
    • Practice expense RVU 6.84 changed to 7.89
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.26
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $394.20changed to$376.88

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.01 changed to 6.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $387.77changed to$394.20

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $416.46changed to$387.77

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.24 changed to 7.01
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $444.88changed to$416.46

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.56 changed to 7.24
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $452.45changed to$444.88

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.65 changed to 7.56

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $426.12changed to$452.45

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 6.80 changed to 7.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.27
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $400.99changed to$426.12

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.36 changed to 6.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.28
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $385.81changed to$400.99

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.02 changed to 6.36

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $388.52changed to$385.81

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.09 changed to 6.02
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.26
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $395.40changed to$388.52

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 6.24 changed to 6.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.27
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $396.40changed to$395.40

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 6.23 changed to 6.24

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $394.42changed to$396.40

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $393.19changed to$394.42

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 6.22 changed to 6.23
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $401.88changed to$393.19

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 6.95 changed to 6.22
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $401.88

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$423.26$155.31RVU26D
2026-07-01$423.26$155.31RVU26C
2026-04-01$423.26$155.31RVU26B
2026-01-01$423.26$155.31RVU26A
2025-10-01$376.88$167.13RVU25D
2025-07-01$376.88$167.13RVU25C
2025-04-01$376.88$167.13RVU25B
2025-01-01$376.88$167.13RVU25A
2024-10-01$394.20$170.02RVU24D
2024-07-01$394.20$170.02RVU24C
2024-04-01$394.20$170.02RVU24B
2024-03-09$394.20$170.02RVU24AR
2024-01-01$387.77$167.24RVU24A
2023-10-01$416.46$175.39RVU23D
2023-07-01$416.46$175.39RVU23C
2023-04-01$416.46$175.39RVU23B
2023-01-01$416.46$175.39RVU23A
2022-10-01$444.88$182.25RVU22D
2022-07-01$444.88$182.25RVU22C
2022-04-01$444.88$182.25RVU22B
2022-01-01$444.88$182.25RVU22A
2021-10-01$452.45$187.65RVU21D
2021-07-01$452.45$187.65RVU21C
2021-04-01$452.45$187.65RVU21B
2021-01-01$452.45$187.65RVU21A
2020-10-01$426.12$193.02RVU20D
2020-07-01$426.12$193.02RVU20C
2020-04-01$426.12$193.02RVU20B
2020-01-01$426.12$193.02RVU20A
2019-10-01$400.99$192.11RVU19D
2019-07-01$400.99$192.11RVU19C
2019-04-01$400.99$192.11RVU19B
2019-01-01$400.99$192.11RVU19A
2018-10-01$385.81$194.50RVU18D
2018-07-01$385.81$194.50RVU18C
2018-04-01$385.81$194.50RVU18B
2018-01-01$385.81$194.50RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$388.52$196.07RVU17D
2017-07-01$388.52$196.07RVU17C
2017-04-01$388.52$196.07RVU17B
2017-01-01$388.52$196.07RVU17A
2016-10-01$395.40$199.10RVU16D
2016-07-01$395.40$199.10RVU16C
2016-04-01$395.40$199.10RVU16B
2016-01-01$395.40$199.10RVU16A
2015-10-01$396.40$199.38RVU15D
2015-07-01$396.40$199.38RVU15C
2015-04-01$394.42$198.39RVU15B
2015-01-01$394.42$198.39RVU15A
2014-10-01$393.19$199.42RVU14D
2014-07-01$393.19$199.42RVU14C
2014-04-01$393.19$199.42RVU14B
2014-01-01$393.19$199.42RVU14A
2013-10-01$401.88$195.23RVU13D
2013-07-01$401.88$195.23RVU13C
2013-04-01$401.88$195.23RVU13B
2013-01-01$401.88$195.23RVU13AR

Price 62290 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

62290 billing questions

How is 62290 distinguished from 62291?

62290 is for discography at lumbar levels. Use 62291 for cervical or thoracic levels.

Is the imaging interpretation reported with the injection?

When the radiological supervision and interpretation is performed and documented, 72295 represents the lumbar discography imaging service. The injection and imaging interpretation describe distinct parts of the procedure.

How many units should be reported?

Report the lumbar disc levels injected, with documentation identifying each level. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the standard multiple-procedure reduction applies.

Can modifier 50 be used for multiple lumbar levels?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; document the individual lumbar levels treated.

What same-day services are included in the global period?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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
RVUs for 62290PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,956 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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