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CPT code 70498: Neck CTA, cervical arteries2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

CTA of the neck evaluates cervical arteries with contrast-enhanced CT and is reported for vascular concerns such as carotid narrowing or arterial injury.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities826.7K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $273.89 for 70498 nationally in the office.

Medicare rate · 70498

Neck CTA, cervical arteries

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
1.71
Total RVUs
8.20
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$273.89

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 70498 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 70498 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 70498 covers

This study uses CT and contrast to visualize arteries in the neck, including the carotid and vertebral vessels. A radiology team commonly performs it when clinicians investigate suspected stenosis, dissection, or other vascular abnormalities. The scan may include noncontrast images when performed, with image processing used to assess the vessels. A radiologist interprets the images and reports the vascular findings.

Report 70498 when the study covers neck arteries rather than only neck soft tissues or only intracranial vessels. The order and report should support the vascular indication, the anatomy imaged, and the interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion, and an unmodified claim represents the global service. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are performed, the CMS multiple procedure reduction applies to both professional and technical 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 70498 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

70498 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

70498 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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
70498 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

How the 70498 rate is calculated

Each of 70498’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 · 70498

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 70498

The CMS indicators that decide how 70498 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 70498

Neck CTA, cervical 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

70498 without 26 · national office

$273.89

Neck CTA, cervical arteries

70498-26 · Professional component

$80.16

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

70498 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 70498

    Neck CTA, cervical arteries1.71 wRVU

    $273.89

  • 70471

    CTA, head and neck with contrast2.5 wRVU

    $376.76+$102.87

  • 70496

    Head CTA, intracranial arteries1.71 wRVU

    $273.89+$0.00

  • 70491

    CT neck, with contrast1.35 wRVU

    $183.37−$90.52

  • 70492

    CT neck, without and with contrast1.58 wRVU

    $219.78−$54.11

How to choose

70471CTAHead and neck with contrast
70471 represents a combined CTA examination of head and neck vessels. Choose 70498 when the CTA is limited to neck vessels.
70496Head CTAIntracranial arteries
70496 evaluates intracranial arteries; 70498 evaluates cervical arteries. The imaged vascular territory determines the code.
70491CT neckWith contrast
70491 is a contrast-enhanced CT of neck soft tissues. 70498 is selected when the examination is an angiographic study of neck vessels.
70492CT neckWithout and with contrast
70492 is a soft-tissue neck CT performed both without and with contrast. It is not the code for a neck-vessel CTA.

Codes related to 70498

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 70498
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
70496Head CTA, intracranial arteriesCTA of intracranial vessels; 70498 covers neck vessels.No office rate
Used instead
70471CTA, head and neck with contrastUse for a combined CTA examination of head and neck vessels.$333.34–$510.12
70491CT neck, with contrastContrast-enhanced neck CT for soft tissues rather than angiographic evaluation.$162.84–$246.73
70492CT neck, without and with contrastNeck soft-tissue CT performed without and with contrast, not a CTA.$195.08–$296.37

70498 billing questions

How is 70498 different from a routine CT of the neck?

70498 evaluates neck arteries with CT angiography. A routine neck CT, such as 70491, evaluates soft tissues rather than providing a vascular angiographic study.

When should the head-and-neck CTA code be considered instead?

Use 70471 when the examination covers both intracranial vessels and neck vessels as a combined CTA. 70498 is for the neck-vessel study.

Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?

Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.

Are noncontrast images reported as a separate neck CT?

Noncontrast images, when performed as part of the neck CTA, are included in 70498. They do not by themselves support reporting a separate noncontrast neck CT.

How does the multiple procedure reduction affect this code?

When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are reported, CMS applies the multiple procedure reduction to both the professional and technical components of 70498.

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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