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

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 70498 in California.

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

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 in California

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

29 of 29 payment localities

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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 70498

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

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

70498 compared with similar codes

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.

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