CPT code 70549: Neck MRA, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
MR angiography of the neck performed both without and with contrast to assess cervical arteries, including carotid and vertebral vessels.
Medicare pays $313.93–$348.89 for 70549 in the office in Georgia, from Rest of Georgia to Atlanta, GA. 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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What 70549 covers
This examination uses magnetic resonance angiography to depict arteries in the neck, including carotid and vertebral vessels, with image sets acquired before and after contrast. It is used to assess suspected narrowing, blockage, aneurysmal change, or dissection and to map cervical arterial anatomy. MRI technologists perform the acquisition in hospital imaging departments or freestanding centers; a radiologist interprets the vascular images.
Report 70549 when the documented study includes both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced neck angiographic imaging; use 70547 for neck MRA without contrast and 70548 for neck MRA with contrast alone. The record should identify the neck vessels examined, the imaging performed with and without contrast, and the interpreting report. The service may be billed globally, or the interpretation and technical work may be split with modifier 26 and TC, respectively. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are reported, CMS applies the multiple-procedure reduction to both the 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 70549 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $348.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Georgia | $313.93 | Unavailable |
How the 70549 rate is calculated
Each of 70549’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 · 70549
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.76
1.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.39
8.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.13
0.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
10.2800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$343.36
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70549
The CMS indicators that decide how 70549 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70549
Neck MRA, 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
70549 without 26 · national office
$343.36
Neck MRA, without and with contrast
70549-26 · Professional component
$82.50
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70549 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 70547Neck MRAWithout contrast
- Use 70547 when the neck angiographic study is performed without contrast only; 70549 includes imaging both without and with contrast.
- 70548Neck MRAWith contrast
- Use 70548 when the neck angiographic study is performed with contrast only; 70549 includes imaging both without and with contrast.
- 70546Head MR angiographyWithout and with contrast
- 70546 describes head MRA performed without and with contrast. Choose 70549 for the neck vessels; both codes may be reported when both regions are separately examined.
- 70543Regional MRIWithout and with contrast
- 70543 is an MRI of the orbit, face, and neck soft tissues without and with contrast, not an angiographic study of neck vessels.
70549 billing questions
When should 70549 be selected instead of 70547 or 70548?
Use 70549 when the neck MRA includes imaging both without and with contrast. Use 70547 for imaging without contrast alone and 70548 for imaging with contrast alone.
Can the professional and technical services 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.
Can a head MRA be reported in the same encounter?
A separately performed and documented head MRA may be reported with the neck MRA when both regions are examined. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction to both components.
What documentation supports 70549?
The record should show that neck arteries were imaged both without and with contrast and include the interpreting report. It should identify the vessels or anatomy evaluated.
Does 70549 describe a soft-tissue MRI of the neck?
No. It describes angiographic imaging of neck vessels; a soft-tissue neck MRI evaluates different anatomy and is not a substitute for this vascular study.
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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