CPT code 70482: CT imaging, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $209.09 for 70482 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $184.41–$285.03.

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

What 70482 covers

This service is a CT examination of the orbits, temporal bones or ear region, sella, or posterior fossa performed first without contrast and then after contrast administration. A radiology technologist typically obtains the images in an imaging department or hospital, and a radiologist interprets the study. Both phases provide images of the selected anatomy before and after contrast.

Select this code when documentation supports both noncontrast and postcontrast acquisitions of a covered region. A noncontrast-only study is reported with 70480, while a contrast-only study is reported with 70481. The record should identify the anatomy examined, the acquisition phases, and the interpretation. Medicare recognizes modifier 26 for the professional interpretation, modifier TC for the technical service, or reporting the global service without a component modifier. Diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional components.

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 70482 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

70482 rates by state

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

How the 70482 rate is calculated

Each of 70482’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 70482

The CMS indicators that decide how 70482 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

70482 compared with similar codes

How to choose

70480Targeted CTWithout contrast

Reports CT of the same general anatomic regions without contrast only. Choose 70482 when both noncontrast and postcontrast acquisitions are performed.

70481CT imagingOrbit, sella, posterior fossa, or ear

Reports CT of the same general anatomic regions with contrast only. Choose 70482 when the examination includes noncontrast imaging before the postcontrast acquisitions.

70470Head CTWithout and with contrast

Reports head or brain CT with and without contrast. Choose 70482 for the orbit, ear region, sella, or posterior fossa rather than a brain-targeted examination.

70488Maxillofacial CTWithout and with contrast

Reports CT of the maxillofacial region with and without contrast. Choose 70482 when the target is the orbit, ear region, sella, or posterior fossa.

Codes related to 70482

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