CPT code 70545: Head MR angiography, with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Louisiana
Reports MR angiography of the head using contrast to evaluate intracranial arteries, such as when assessing suspected aneurysm, stenosis, or vascular malformation.
Medicare pays $205.15–$216.05 for 70545 in the office in Louisiana, from Rest of Louisiana to New Orleans, LA. 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 70545 covers
This service uses magnetic resonance imaging techniques and contrast to visualize arteries within the head. It may be performed to investigate suspected intracranial aneurysm, narrowing, or vascular malformation, or to assess known vascular disease. Imaging is typically performed in a hospital or outpatient imaging center, with a radiologist interpreting the study. It focuses on intracranial vessels rather than brain tissue or the arteries of the neck.
Choose this code when the documented head angiographic study uses contrast; use the corresponding head MRA code for a study without contrast or for imaging performed both without and with contrast. The order, imaging protocol, contrast documentation, and radiologist’s report should support the anatomy and contrast approach. The service has professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for interpretation, TC for equipment and staff, or neither modifier for the global service. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are reported, CMS’s multiple procedure reduction applies to both 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 70545 pays more and less in Louisiana
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $216.05 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | $205.15 | Unavailable |
How the 70545 rate is calculated
Each of 70545’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 · 70545
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.17
1.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.51
5.51 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.10
0.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
6.7800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$226.46
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70545
The CMS indicators that decide how 70545 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70545
Head MR angiography, 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
70545 without 26 · national office
$226.46
Head MR angiography, with contrast
70545-26 · Professional component
$55.11
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70545 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 70544Head MRAWithout contrast
- Choose 70544 for head MR angiography without contrast; choose 70545 when contrast is used.
- 70546Head MR angiographyWithout and with contrast
- 70546 represents head angiographic imaging both without and with contrast. 70545 represents the contrast-enhanced study without that combined approach.
- 70548Neck MRAWith contrast
- 70548 targets the arteries of the neck. 70545 targets intracranial arteries in the head.
- 70553Brain MRIWithout and with contrast
- 70553 is a brain MRI performed without and with contrast, focused on brain tissue. 70545 is angiographic imaging of intracranial vessels.
70545 billing questions
How does this differ from 70544?
70545 is for head MR angiography performed with contrast. 70544 is the head angiography option without contrast.
When is 70546 used instead?
Use 70546 when the head MRA includes image acquisition both without and with contrast. Use 70545 when the documented study is performed with contrast.
Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, and TC identifies the equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Does a multiple-imaging reduction affect only the technical service?
No. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the technical and professional components.
Can this be reported with a brain MRI?
A separately performed brain MRI may be reported when it evaluates brain tissue and the MRA evaluates intracranial vessels. The documentation should support both distinct studies.
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.
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