CPT code 70450: Head CT, without contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

Medicare pays $113.47–$142.62 for 70450 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.

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

What 70450 covers

This study images the skull, brain, and intracranial spaces with CT and no contrast material. A radiologic technologist acquires images, typically viewed in brain and bone windows, and a radiologist interprets them. Often performed in emergency departments, it helps evaluate suspected stroke before thrombolysis, head injury after a fall, sudden severe headache, altered mental status, seizures, or known intracranial bleeding.

Select 70450 when only noncontrast head images are obtained. Use 70460 for contrast-enhanced images only, or 70470 when head images are obtained both before and after contrast in the same session. The report should document the indication, technique, and findings, such as hemorrhage, mass effect, midline shift, or fracture. Modifier 26 identifies the radiologist's interpretation; modifier TC identifies the scanner, staff, and other technical work. Billing without either modifier represents the global service. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to eligible technical and professional components when multiple imaging studies are furnished, such as head and cervical spine CT after trauma.

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 70450 pays more and less in California

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

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 70450 rate is calculated

Each of 70450’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 70450

The CMS indicators that decide how 70450 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

70450 compared with similar codes

How to choose

70470Head CTWithout and with contrast

70450 is for head imaging without contrast. When both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced head images are acquired in one session, report 70470 rather than 70450 plus 70460.

70496Head CTAIntracranial arteries

70496 is CT angiography of intracranial vessels with contrast and postprocessing; 70450 evaluates the head and brain without contrast. Both may be reported when 70450 represents a separate, complete, medically necessary diagnostic study.

70480Targeted CTWithout contrast

70480 is a targeted noncontrast CT study of the orbits, sella, posterior fossa, or ears. 70450 is a general head and brain study used to evaluate concerns such as hemorrhage or head trauma.

70551Brain MRIWithout contrast

70551 is noncontrast MRI of the brain, not CT. It may be selected for detailed brain tissue evaluation, while 70450 is often used for rapid acute assessment and bleeding detection.

Codes related to 70450

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