CPT code 70450: Head CT, without contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Noncontrast computed tomography of the head and brain, reported when a quick scan is needed to evaluate hemorrhage, stroke, trauma, or acute neurologic change.
Medicare pays $104.18–$112.76 for 70450 in the office in Florida, from Rest of Florida to Miami, FL. 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.
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On this page 9 sections
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 Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$104.18 to $112.76
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $109.17 | Unavailable |
| Miami, FL | $112.76 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Florida | $104.18 | Unavailable |
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.
How the rate is built · 70450
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.83
0.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.30
2.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.06
0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.1900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$106.55
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70450
The CMS indicators that decide how 70450 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70450
Head CT, without contrast
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 4 | Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
70450 without 26 · national office
$106.55
Head CT, without contrast
70450-26 · Professional component
$39.41
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70450 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
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.
70450 billing questions
Can 70450 and 70460 be billed together for the same session?
No. When noncontrast images are followed by contrast-enhanced head images in the same session, report 70470 instead of the two separate codes.
Which modifier does a hospital radiologist use?
A radiologist interpreting a scan performed on hospital equipment reports modifier 26 for the interpretation; the hospital bills for the technical service. An imaging center furnishing both the scan and interpretation may bill the global service without a component modifier.
In a stroke alert, can a noncontrast head CT be billed with CTA of the head and neck?
A separately performed, complete, medically necessary diagnostic head CT with its own interpretation may be reported with 70496 and 70498. Do not report 70450 for preliminary noncontrast images included in the CTA head acquisition.
Does the multiple procedure reduction affect trauma scans like head and cervical spine CT?
It can when both scans are eligible under the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction. CMS ranks the technical and professional components separately and reduces the lower-ranked eligible components.
Should 70450 be used for a scan focused on the sinuses, orbits, or temporal bones?
No. For noncontrast studies, 70480 describes dedicated CT of the orbits, sella, posterior fossa, or ears; 70486 describes maxillofacial CT, including the sinuses. Use 70450 for a general head and brain study.
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
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