CPT code 70552: MRI brain, with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $268.88 for 70552 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $237.78–$364.79.

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

What 70552 covers

This service is a conventional magnetic resonance examination of the brain, including the brain stem, acquired after contrast administration without a precontrast sequence. Radiology technologists perform the scan in hospital imaging departments, outpatient imaging centers, or equipped offices; a radiologist interprets the images. It may be ordered to evaluate enhancing intracranial abnormalities, such as a suspected tumor or infection, when the clinical question calls for contrast-enhanced imaging.

Select this code when the examination uses contrast only. If the study includes both precontrast and postcontrast imaging, use 70553; if it is performed without contrast, use 70551. The order, imaging record, contrast documentation, and interpretation should support the protocol and clinical indication. Bill the complete service without a component modifier, or report modifier 26 for the interpretation or TC for the equipment and staff. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction 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.

Where 70552 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

70552 rates by state

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

How the 70552 rate is calculated

Each of 70552’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 70552

The CMS indicators that decide how 70552 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

70552 compared with similar codes

How to choose

70551Brain MRIWithout contrast

70551 is for brain MRI without contrast. This code is for contrast-enhanced imaging without a precontrast sequence.

70553Brain MRIWithout and with contrast

70553 includes both precontrast and postcontrast brain imaging; this code represents the contrast-only protocol.

70545Head MR angiographyWith contrast

70545 is contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the head, focused on intracranial vessels. This code is conventional brain MRI, focused on brain anatomy.

70558Functional brain MRIWith contrast

70558 is a functional brain MRI with contrast. This code represents conventional structural brain MRI with contrast.

Codes related to 70552

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