CPT code 70482: CT imaging, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maryland
Reports CT imaging of the orbit, ear region, sella, or posterior fossa when the examination includes both noncontrast and postcontrast acquisitions.
Medicare pays $211.23–$240.98 for 70482 in the office in Maryland, from Rest of Maryland to Washington, DC area. 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 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 in Maryland
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$211.23 to $240.98
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore area, MD | $222.49 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maryland | $211.23 | Unavailable |
| Washington, DC area | $240.98 | Unavailable |
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.
How the rate is built · 70482
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.24
1.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.93
4.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.09
0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
6.2600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$209.09
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70482
The CMS indicators that decide how 70482 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70482
CT imaging, without and with 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
70482 without 26 · national office
$209.09
CT imaging, without and with contrast
70482-26 · Professional component
$58.12
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70482 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
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.
70482 billing questions
How does 70482 differ from 70480 and 70481?
70482 is for an examination with both noncontrast and postcontrast acquisitions. Use 70480 for noncontrast imaging only and 70481 for contrast imaging only.
Can the professional and technical portions be reported separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Reporting without either component modifier represents the global service.
Does the multiple procedure reduction affect both components?
Yes. The diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical and professional components.
What documentation supports reporting 70482?
Document the orbit, ear region, sella, or posterior fossa examined and show that both noncontrast and postcontrast image acquisitions were performed. The interpretation should support the professional service when billed.
When should a head CT code be used instead?
Use a head CT code such as 70470 when the examination targets the brain rather than the orbit, ear region, sella, or posterior fossa covered by this code.
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
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