CPT code 71250: Chest CT, diagnostic, without contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $132.60 for 71250 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $118.05–$177.45.

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

What 71250 covers

This diagnostic CT of the thorax is acquired without intravenous contrast. It examines the lungs, airways, mediastinum, pleura, and chest wall and is commonly ordered for pulmonary nodule follow-up, high-resolution evaluation of interstitial lung disease, assessment of emphysema, or workup of an abnormal chest radiograph. Technologists acquire the images in hospital radiology departments, emergency departments, and freestanding imaging centers. A radiologist interprets the study and issues a written report.

Report 71250 when the chest is scanned without intravenous contrast. Use 71260 for a contrast-only chest CT and 71270 when both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced chest images are obtained. Lung cancer screening in an eligible asymptomatic patient is reported with 71271. The order should identify the diagnostic indication, and the report should describe the technique and findings. Billing without a modifier represents the global service; modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion when billed separately. For eligible imaging performed in the same session, Medicare's diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction affects 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 71250 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

71250 rates by state

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

How the 71250 rate is calculated

Each of 71250’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 71250

The CMS indicators that decide how 71250 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

71250 compared with similar codes

How to choose

71260Chest CT with contrastContrast-enhanced images only

71260 applies when the chest scan uses intravenous contrast only. Report 71250 when the chest exam is performed without intravenous contrast.

71270Chest CTWithout and with contrast

71270 applies when both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced chest images are obtained in one exam. When only noncontrast chest images are obtained, report 71250.

71271Lung screening CTLow-dose, without contrast

71271 is a low-dose lung cancer screening exam for eligible asymptomatic patients. Use diagnostic chest CT coding for evaluation of symptoms, nodule follow-up, or known disease.

71275CT angiographyChest vessels

71275 is a contrast-enhanced angiographic study of thoracic vessels, such as the pulmonary arteries or aorta. A noncontrast diagnostic chest CT is reported with 71250, not as CT angiography.

Codes related to 71250

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