CPT code 70552: MRI brain, with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Report this code for a conventional MRI of the brain, including the brain stem, performed with contrast when no precontrast imaging sequence is acquired.
Medicare pays $249.99–$280.53 for 70552 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont, TX to Austin, TX. 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 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 in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$249.99 to $280.53
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $280.53 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $249.99 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $266.60 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $268.00 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $265.99 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $267.21 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $269.40 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $257.94 | Unavailable |
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.
How the rate is built · 70552
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.74
1.74 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.19
6.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.12
0.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
8.0500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$268.88
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70552
The CMS indicators that decide how 70552 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70552
MRI brain, 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
70552 without 26 · national office
$268.88
MRI brain, with contrast
70552-26 · Professional component
$81.83
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70552 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
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.
70552 billing questions
How does this differ from 70553?
70552 represents contrast-enhanced imaging without a precontrast sequence. Use 70553 when the brain MRI includes both precontrast and postcontrast imaging.
Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. An unmodified claim represents the global service.
Does the multiple procedure reduction affect both components?
Yes. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to the technical and professional components.
Is this code limited to imaging the brain stem?
No. It describes a conventional MRI of the brain, including the brain stem, with contrast. The documented examination and protocol should support the reported service.
When should 70551 be reported instead?
Use 70551 for a brain MRI performed without contrast. Use 70552 when contrast is used without a precontrast imaging sequence.
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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