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CPT code 62291: Discography, cervical or thoracic2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina

Reports contrast injection into cervical or thoracic intervertebral disc levels for discography, generally to assess disc structure and help evaluate suspected disc-related pain.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality670 Medicare services in 2024

In South Carolina, Medicare pays $318.33 for 62291 in the office and $130.07 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$318.33Office (non-facility)
$130.07Hospital or facility
−5.6%vs the national office rate ($337.35)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 62291 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 62291 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in South Carolina
  2. What 62291 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 62291 covers

A physician, commonly a radiologist or spine specialist, places a needle into one or more cervical or thoracic intervertebral discs and injects contrast for discographic evaluation. The study can help assess disc morphology and whether injection reproduces a patient’s symptoms during evaluation of suspected disc-related pain. This code identifies the injection procedure at each level, not lumbar discography.

Report the code for each cervical or thoracic disc level injected, supported by the procedure note’s documented site and number of levels. Radiological supervision and interpretation for cervical or thoracic discography is represented by 72285 when performed and documented. The 0-day global includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. 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% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeon and team-surgery payment is 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 South Carolina compares for 62291

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 62291 runs from $300.40 in Arkansas to $447.70 in San Benito County, CA. South Carolina pays $318.33. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

62291 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$318.33
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$381.45+$63.12
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$385.11+$66.78
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$359.22+$40.89
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$349.57+$31.24
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$386.10+$67.77
  7. Alaska · Alaska$396.42+$78.09

Other areas in South Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

62291 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$304.56$126.28
ArkansasArkansas$300.40$125.38
ArizonaArizona$328.93$131.50
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$358.53$135.22
Chico, CACalifornia$357.75$134.45
El Centro, CACalifornia$357.79$134.49
Fresno, CACalifornia$357.75$134.45
Hanford, CACalifornia$357.75$134.45

62291 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.

$300.40

$402.73

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

View every state and territory as a table
62291 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$396.421
AL$304.561
AR$300.401
AZ$328.931
CA$357.75–$447.7029
CO$351.741
CT$358.981
DC$385.111
DE$334.201
FL$331.06–$359.223
GA$313.56–$343.002
GU$366.101
HI$366.101
IA$312.581
ID$314.371
IL$321.46–$350.534
IN$316.111
KS$310.861
KY$310.641
LA$310.05–$324.612
MA$349.67–$385.842
MD$340.45–$385.113
ME$315.56–$332.282
MI$317.98–$334.642
MN$338.511
MO$304.78–$326.113
MS$302.661
MT$337.331
NC$318.751
ND$332.591
NE$314.311
NH$345.961
NJ$363.49–$381.392
NM$319.501
NV$336.241
NY$323.24–$394.615
OH$317.011
OK$310.471
OR$334.03–$362.842
PA$317.68–$350.222
PR$339.811
RI$346.021
SC$318.331
SD$332.031
TN$312.301
TX$315.68–$350.228
UT$322.461
VA$331.01–$385.112
VI$339.811
VT$331.041
WA$349.09–$393.852
WI$321.951
WV$310.091
WY$335.261

See 62291 in every payment locality

How the 62291 rate is calculated

Each of 62291’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 · 62291

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.84

2.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.02

7.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.24

0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

10.1000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$337.35

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

The exact South Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,957

Code
62291
Physician work
2.84
Practice expense
7.02
Malpractice
0.24

GPCI2026.csv

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 62291 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.84× 1.0002.8400
Practice expense7.02× 0.9246.4865
Malpractice0.24× 0.8500.2040
Total RVUs9.5305
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$318.33

Office: (2.84 × 1 + 7.02 × 0.924 + 0.24 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $318.33

Facility: (2.84 × 1 + 0.92 × 0.924 + 0.24 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $130.07

Open 62291 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 62291

The CMS indicators that decide how 62291 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 62291

Discography, cervical or thoracic

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

62291 without 51 · national office

$337.35

Discography, cervical or thoracic

62291-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$168.68

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 62291

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

Codes related to 62291
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, South Carolina
Same family
62290Discography, lumbar level injectionLumbar counterpart for discography injection.$348.75
72295Discography imaging, lumbar spineLumbar counterpart for discography supervision and interpretation.$114.89
Often billed with
72285Discography, cervical or thoracicRadiological supervision and interpretation for cervical or thoracic discography.$136.69

How 62291 has changed in South Carolina

62291 · Office / nonfacility

$318.33

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $42.44 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $275.89 to $318.33 (15.4%).

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

    $275.89changed to$318.33

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.91 changed to 2.84
    • Practice expense RVU 5.94 changed to 7.02
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.924
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.817 changed to 0.850

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $288.78changed to$275.89

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 6.10 changed to 5.94

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $284.07changed to$288.78

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $305.63changed to$284.07

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 6.52 changed to 6.10
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.24
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $314.84changed to$305.63

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 6.66 changed to 6.52
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.756

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $330.61changed to$314.84

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.07 changed to 6.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $319.61changed to$330.61

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 6.37 changed to 7.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.26
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.624 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $311.01changed to$319.61

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.12 changed to 6.37
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.912 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.553 changed to 0.624

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $308.70changed to$311.01

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.06 changed to 6.12

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $314.89changed to$308.70

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.27 changed to 6.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.25
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $315.65changed to$314.89

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 6.28 changed to 6.27
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.23
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $322.29changed to$315.65

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 6.44 changed to 6.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $320.69changed to$322.29

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $305.48changed to$320.69

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 5.99 changed to 6.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.911 changed to 0.912
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.618 changed to 0.715

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $303.88changed to$305.48

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 6.47 changed to 5.99
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.26
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.909 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.520 changed to 0.618

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $303.88

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$318.33$130.07RVU26D
2026-07-01$318.33$130.07RVU26C
2026-04-01$318.33$130.07RVU26B
2026-01-01$318.33$130.07RVU26A
2025-10-01$275.89$132.96RVU25D
2025-07-01$275.89$132.96RVU25C
2025-04-01$275.89$132.96RVU25B
2025-01-01$275.89$132.96RVU25A
2024-10-01$288.78$135.91RVU24D
2024-07-01$288.78$135.91RVU24C
2024-04-01$288.78$135.91RVU24B
2024-03-09$288.78$135.91RVU24AR
2024-01-01$284.07$133.69RVU24A
2023-10-01$305.63$140.40RVU23D
2023-07-01$305.63$140.40RVU23C
2023-04-01$305.63$140.40RVU23B
2023-01-01$305.63$140.40RVU23A
2022-10-01$314.84$143.59RVU22D
2022-07-01$314.84$143.59RVU22C
2022-04-01$314.84$143.59RVU22B
2022-01-01$314.84$143.59RVU22A
2021-10-01$330.61$150.70RVU21D
2021-07-01$330.61$150.70RVU21C
2021-04-01$330.61$150.70RVU21B
2021-01-01$330.61$150.70RVU21A
2020-10-01$319.61$156.60RVU20D
2020-07-01$319.61$156.60RVU20C
2020-04-01$319.61$156.60RVU20B
2020-01-01$319.61$156.60RVU20A
2019-10-01$311.01$158.83RVU19D
2019-07-01$311.01$158.83RVU19C
2019-04-01$311.01$158.83RVU19B
2019-01-01$311.01$158.83RVU19A
2018-10-01$308.70$164.24RVU18D
2018-07-01$308.70$164.24RVU18C
2018-04-01$308.70$164.24RVU18B
2018-01-01$308.70$164.24RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$314.89$166.62RVU17D
2017-07-01$314.89$166.62RVU17C
2017-04-01$314.89$166.62RVU17B
2017-01-01$314.89$166.62RVU17A
2016-10-01$315.65$168.39RVU16D
2016-07-01$315.65$168.39RVU16C
2016-04-01$315.65$168.39RVU16B
2016-01-01$315.65$168.39RVU16A
2015-10-01$322.29$169.91RVU15D
2015-07-01$322.29$169.91RVU15C
2015-04-01$320.69$169.06RVU15B
2015-01-01$320.69$169.06RVU15A
2014-10-01$305.48$166.46RVU14D
2014-07-01$305.48$166.46RVU14C
2014-04-01$305.48$166.46RVU14B
2014-01-01$305.48$166.46RVU14A
2013-10-01$303.88$159.45RVU13D
2013-07-01$303.88$159.45RVU13C
2013-04-01$303.88$159.45RVU13B
2013-01-01$303.88$159.45RVU13AR

Price 62291 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Abney Crossroads
  • Adams Run
  • Aiken
  • Alcolu
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Andrews

Browse all communities in South Carolina

62291 billing questions

When should 62291 be chosen instead of 62290?

Use 62291 for cervical or thoracic disc levels. Code 62290 is the lumbar discography injection counterpart.

How are units determined?

The code is reported for each cervical or thoracic disc level injected. Document the levels treated in the procedure note.

Is the imaging supervision and interpretation included?

Radiological supervision and interpretation for cervical or thoracic discography is represented by 72285 when performed and documented.

Should modifier 50 be used for bilateral discography?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?

For multiple procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. 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 62291PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,957 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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