CPT code 70496: Head CTA, intracranial arteries2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Delaware

Report head CT angiography when contrast-enhanced CT images evaluate intracranial arteries, such as for suspected aneurysm, stenosis, or arterial occlusion.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality797.3K Medicare services in 2024

CMS doesn’t publish a rate for 70496 in Delaware.

Additional calculation requiredOffice (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
$273.89vs the national office rate ($273.89)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 70496 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 70496 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Delaware
  2. What 70496 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 70496 covers

This service uses contrast-enhanced CT acquisition to depict arteries within the head. It is commonly performed in a hospital or imaging center when clinicians investigate a suspected aneurysm, arterial narrowing or blockage, or another cerebrovascular condition. A radiologist interprets the vascular images; the technical service includes the scanner, contrast administration, and imaging staff. Noncontrast images obtained as part of the CTA are included in the service.

Select this code for a head vascular study, rather than a routine CT examination of brain tissue. The record should support the clinical reason for imaging, the area examined, the contrast-enhanced acquisition, and the radiologist’s interpretation. CMS allows separate professional (modifier 26) and technical (modifier TC) billing; billing without either modifier represents the global service. The 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.

How Delaware compares for 70496

70496 in Delaware vs other payment areas
  1. Delaware · this pageUnavailable
  2. Los Angeles, CA · CaliforniaUnavailable
  3. Washington, DC area · District of ColumbiaUnavailable
  4. Miami, FL · FloridaUnavailable
  5. Chicago, IL · IllinoisUnavailable
  6. Manhattan, NY · New YorkUnavailable
  7. Alaska · AlaskaUnavailable

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

Every other payment area

70496 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama——
ArkansasArkansas——
ArizonaArizona——
Bakersfield, CACalifornia——
Chico, CACalifornia——
El Centro, CACalifornia——
Fresno, CACalifornia——
Hanford, CACalifornia——

70496 rates by state

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

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.

View every state and territory as a table
70496 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

See 70496 in every payment locality

How the 70496 rate is calculated

Each of 70496’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 · 70496

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.71

1.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.37

6.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.12

0.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.2000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$273.89

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 70496

The CMS indicators that decide how 70496 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 70496

Head CTA, intracranial arteries

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures4Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

70496 without 26 · national office

$273.89

Head CTA, intracranial arteries

70496-26 · Professional component

$80.16

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

How 70496 has changed in Delaware

70496 · Office / nonfacility

Rate unavailable

Effective 2026-10-01

A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.

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, 2019

    RVU19A

    $303.78changed toNo rate

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D, RVU20A, RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D, RVU21A, RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D, RVU22A, RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D, RVU23A, RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D, RVU24A, RVU24AR, RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D, RVU25A, RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D, RVU26A, RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $303.97changed to$303.78

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.41 changed to 6.42
    • Work GPCI 1.010 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.101 changed to 1.119

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  3. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $304.68changed to$303.97

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.010
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.025
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.101

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  4. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $305.78changed to$304.68

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  5. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $304.26changed to$305.78

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  6. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    No ratechanged to$304.26

    Held through RVU15B.

  7. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$303.78Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$303.78Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$303.78Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$303.78Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$303.97Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$303.97Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$303.97Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$303.97Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$304.68Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$304.68Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$304.68Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$304.68Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$305.78Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$305.78Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$304.26Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$304.26Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01Additional calculation requiredNot available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 70496 for an earlier date of service

Where the Delaware rate applies

Delaware is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Arden
  • Ardencroft
  • Ardentown
  • Bear
  • Bellefonte
  • Bethany Beach
  • Bethel
  • Blades

Browse all communities in Delaware

70496 billing questions

How does this differ from a routine CT of the head?

This code represents CT angiography focused on intracranial arteries. A routine head CT evaluates brain and skull structures rather than providing the same vascular study.

Are noncontrast images separately reportable?

Noncontrast images obtained as part of the CTA are included in this service. A distinct head CT may be separately reported when it represents a separate diagnostic examination and is documented as such.

Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?

Yes. Report modifier 26 for the interpretation or modifier TC for the technical service; billing without either modifier represents the global service.

How should a combined head-and-neck CTA be reported?

Use code 70471 for the combined head-and-neck CTA service. Code 70496 is for the head CTA service, not the combined examination.

What documentation supports this code?

Document the clinical indication, the head vascular territory imaged, contrast-enhanced acquisition, and the interpretation. The report should show that the service evaluated intracranial vessels, not only brain parenchyma.

How does the multiple procedure reduction affect split billing?

CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the technical and professional components when it applies to the claim.

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

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