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CPT code 70553: Brain MRI, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Manhattan, NY

Brain MRI with noncontrast and postcontrast sequences in one session evaluates suspected tumors, active demyelination, infection, or other enhancing lesions.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality1.1M Medicare services in 2024

In Manhattan, NY, Medicare pays $363.29 for 70553 in the office.

$363.29Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
+14.6%vs the national office rate ($316.97)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 70553 nationwide

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

We’ll open 70553 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Manhattan, NY
  2. What 70553 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 70553 covers

Brain MRI under this code covers the brain and brain stem using diagnostic noncontrast sequences followed by contrast-enhanced sequences during one examination. Sequences may include T1, T2, FLAIR, and diffusion imaging before intravenous gadolinium, with additional imaging afterward. Radiologists or neuroradiologists interpret examinations performed in hospital radiology departments, outpatient imaging centers, or physician offices. Typical reasons to obtain both phases include assessment of a brain tumor or metastases, active demyelination, intracranial infection, or a pituitary lesion.

Report one unit for the combined examination, rather than reporting 70551 and 70552 for its separate phases. Documentation should establish that diagnostic images were obtained before and after contrast administration; the administration record supports the agent and amount if the supply is separately reported. The interpreting physician reports the professional component with modifier 26, while the provider furnishing equipment and staff reports the technical component with modifier TC. An entity furnishing both components reports the global service without either modifier. Medicare's diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction affects professional and technical components when this examination is performed with other eligible imaging services under the applicable same-session criteria.

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.

How Manhattan, NY compares for 70553

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 70553 runs from $280.94 in Arkansas to $427.51 in San Benito County, CA. Manhattan, NY pays $363.29. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

70553 in Manhattan, NY vs other payment areas
  1. Manhattan, NY · this page$363.29
  2. NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY · New York$371.14+$7.85
  3. Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY · New York$343.98−$19.31
  4. Queens, NY · New York$367.26+$3.97
  5. Rest of New York · New York$303.53−$59.76
  6. Los Angeles, CA · California$361.63−$1.66
  7. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$363.81+$0.52

Other areas in New York first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

70553 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Miami, FLFlorida$334.87—
Chicago, ILIllinois$325.60—
AlaskaAlaska$367.23—
AlabamaAlabama$285.01—
ArkansasArkansas$280.94—
ArizonaArizona$308.85—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$339.07—
Chico, CACalifornia$338.53—

70553 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$280.94

$383.02

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
70553 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$367.231
AL$285.011
AR$280.941
AZ$308.851
CA$338.53–$427.5129
CO$331.881
CT$337.851
DC$363.811
DE$313.961
FL$309.23–$334.873
GA$292.39–$322.072
GU$347.211
HI$347.211
IA$293.591
ID$295.191
IL$299.35–$328.024
IN$296.921
KS$291.561
KY$290.201
LA$289.48–$303.712
MA$329.65–$365.452
MD$320.13–$363.813
ME$295.98–$312.872
MI$297.03–$312.342
MN$320.091
MO$284.11–$305.603
MS$282.621
MT$316.961
NC$299.161
ND$313.801
NE$295.391
NH$326.031
NJ$342.29–$359.972
NM$298.371
NV$316.321
NY$303.53–$371.145
OH$296.391
OK$290.411
OR$314.44–$343.122
PA$297.23–$329.072
PR$319.501
RI$325.641
SC$298.151
SD$313.431
TN$292.921
TX$295.25–$330.278
UT$302.201
VA$311.37–$363.812
VI$319.501
VT$311.961
WA$329.23–$373.552
WI$303.321
WV$288.211
WY$315.591

See 70553 in every payment locality

How the 70553 rate is calculated

Each of 70553’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 · 70553

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.23

2.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.10

7.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.16

0.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

9.4900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$316.97

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Manhattan, NY inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,862

Code
70553
Physician work
2.23
Practice expense
7.10
Malpractice
0.16

GPCI2026.csv

78

Locality
Manhattan, NY
Physician work
1.064
Practice expense
1.162
Malpractice
1.586
Office calculation for 70553 in Manhattan, NY
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.23× 1.0642.3727
Practice expense7.10× 1.1628.2502
Malpractice0.16× 1.5860.2538
Total RVUs10.8767
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Manhattan, NY$363.29

Office: (2.23 × 1.064 + 7.1 × 1.162 + 0.16 × 1.586) × $33.4009 = $363.29

Open 70553 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 70553

The CMS indicators that decide how 70553 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 70553

Brain MRI, without and with contrast

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures4Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

70553 without 26 · national office

$316.97

Brain MRI, without and with contrast

70553-26 · Professional component

$105.21

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 70553

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 70553
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Manhattan, NY
Same family
70551Brain MRI, without contrastBrain MRI with diagnostic noncontrast sequences only.$223.75
70552MRI brain, with contrastBrain MRI with diagnostic postcontrast sequences only.$308.44
Used instead
70559Functional brain MRI, without and with contrastBrain MRI without and with contrast during an open intracranial procedure.No office rate
Often billed with
70546Head MR angiography, without and with contrastHead MRA without and with contrast when a separate intracranial vascular examination is performed.$377.73
70543Regional MRI, without and with contrastOrbit, face, or neck MRI when that region receives a separate, complete examination.$386.86
A9585Gadobutrol injection, per 0.1 mLGadobutrol supply when the agent is furnished and separately reportable.No office rate

How 70553 has changed in Manhattan, NY

70553 · Office / nonfacility

$363.29

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.01 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $361.28 to $363.29 (0.6%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $361.28changed to$363.29

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.29 changed to 2.23
    • Practice expense RVU 7.26 changed to 7.10
    • Work GPCI 1.065 changed to 1.064
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.166 changed to 1.162
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.656 changed to 1.586

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $375.89changed to$361.28

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.38 changed to 7.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.16

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $369.76changed to$375.89

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $393.65changed to$369.76

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.51 changed to 7.38
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.15
    • Work GPCI 1.061 changed to 1.065
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.184 changed to 1.166
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.843 changed to 1.656

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $409.38changed to$393.65

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.57 changed to 7.51
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.16
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.061
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.203 changed to 1.184
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.031 changed to 1.843

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $428.14changed to$409.38

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.97 changed to 7.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.15

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $433.36changed to$428.14

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.85 changed to 7.97
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.203
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.823 changed to 2.031

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $436.19changed to$433.36

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.01 changed to 7.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.13
    • Work GPCI 1.052 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.180 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.615 changed to 1.823

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $446.75changed to$436.19

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.27 changed to 8.01

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $441.89changed to$446.75

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.22 changed to 8.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.174 changed to 1.180
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.690 changed to 1.615

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $437.81changed to$441.89

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.18 changed to 8.22
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.174
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.764 changed to 1.690

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $437.50changed to$437.81

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.15 changed to 8.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.15

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $435.32changed to$437.50

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $455.74changed to$435.32

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.66 changed to 8.15
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.052
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.165 changed to 1.168
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.518 changed to 1.764

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $657.11changed to$455.74

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Work RVU 2.36 changed to 2.29
    • Practice expense RVU 14.30 changed to 8.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.14
    • Work GPCI 1.062 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.162 changed to 1.165
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.518

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $657.11

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$363.29Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$363.29Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$363.29Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$363.29Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$361.28Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$361.28Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$361.28Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$361.28Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$375.89Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$375.89Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$375.89Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$375.89Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$369.76Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$393.65Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$393.65Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$393.65Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$393.65Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$409.38Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$409.38Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$409.38Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$409.38Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$428.14Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$428.14Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$428.14Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$428.14Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$433.36Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$433.36Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$433.36Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$433.36Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$436.19Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$436.19Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$436.19Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$436.19Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$446.75Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$446.75Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$446.75Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$446.75Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$441.89Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$441.89Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$441.89Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$441.89Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$437.81Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$437.81Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$437.81Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$437.81Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$437.50Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$437.50Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$435.32Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$435.32Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$455.74Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$455.74Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$455.74Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$455.74Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$657.11Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$657.11Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$657.11Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$657.11Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 70553 for an earlier date of service

Where the Manhattan, NY rate applies

Manhattan, NY is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in New York. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in New York

70553 billing questions

Can 70551 and 70552 be billed together instead of 70553?

No. When diagnostic noncontrast and contrast-enhanced brain sequences are acquired in one examination, report 70553 rather than billing the separate phases.

If the radiologist decides to add contrast after reviewing the noncontrast images, which code applies?

Report 70553 if diagnostic postcontrast sequences are performed during the same examination. The documentation should support the decision to add contrast.

Is the gadolinium contrast included in 70553?

When the billing entity supplies the agent and separate supply reporting is permitted, report the appropriate HCPCS code for the product and administered amount.

How should a hospital-based radiologist bill this study?

The radiologist reports 70553-26 for the interpretation; the hospital reports the technical service on its facility claim. An entity furnishing both components reports 70553 globally without a component modifier.

Does the multiple-procedure reduction apply when brain MRI and MRA head are done together?

When 70553 and an eligible head MRA are furnished to the same patient in the same session under Medicare's imaging reduction criteria, the reduction can affect both professional and technical payment. The lower-paid component is determined separately for each type of payment.

How does 70553 differ from 70559?

Code 70559 describes brain MRI without and with contrast during an open intracranial procedure. Use 70553 for the corresponding diagnostic examination outside that setting.

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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 70553PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,862 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Manhattan, NYGPCI2026.csv, line 78 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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