CPT code 71270: Chest CT, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Reports a diagnostic chest CT with images obtained before and after contrast when the clinical question requires both phases in one examination.
Medicare pays $195.73 for 71270 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $172.84–$265.99.
Medicare rate · 71270
Chest CT, without and with contrast
- Work RVUs
- 1.22
- Total RVUs
- 5.86
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$195.73
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 71270 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
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 10 sections
What 71270 covers
This service is a diagnostic CT examination of the chest that includes an unenhanced image acquisition followed by imaging after contrast administration. Radiologists commonly interpret it for evaluation of thoracic abnormalities such as a mass or other finding that needs assessment across both phases. It is performed in hospital imaging departments and outpatient radiology centers, with technologists operating the scanner and a qualified practitioner interpreting the images.
Report 71270 when the ordered and performed examination includes both the unenhanced and contrast-enhanced phases; do not separately report 71250 and 71260 for those phases of the same examination. The order and report should support the diagnostic indication and the use of both phases. The global service includes the interpretation and the technical work; modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the professional and technical components when applicable.
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 71270 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$172.84 to $265.99
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $175.43 | Unavailable |
| Alaska | $224.63 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $190.59 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $172.84 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta, GA | $198.89 | Unavailable |
| Austin, TX | $204.28 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield, CA | $209.92 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore area, MD | $208.19 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $181.84 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $194.03 | Unavailable |
| Chicago, IL | $200.67 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $205.29 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $208.88 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $195.06 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $193.81 | Unavailable |
| Detroit, MI | $192.47 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $186.62 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $209.63 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $200.13 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $193.58 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $194.47 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $215.28 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $196.12 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $181.99 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $183.09 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $181.00 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $179.65 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $178.60 | Unavailable |
| King County, WA | $231.71 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $224.20 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan, NY | $224.72 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $260.28 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $226.55 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $186.39 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $203.27 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $188.44 | Unavailable |
| Miami, FL | $206.56 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $198.02 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $173.82 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Montana | $195.72 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $245.15 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $182.16 | Unavailable |
| Nevada | $195.38 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $201.58 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $183.72 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans, LA | $187.17 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $184.46 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota | $193.94 | Unavailable |
| Northern New Jersey | $222.82 | Unavailable |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $229.64 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $182.53 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $178.80 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $223.40 | Unavailable |
| Portland, OR | $212.48 | Unavailable |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $212.63 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $197.36 | Unavailable |
| Queens, NY | $227.33 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Florida | $190.55 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Georgia | $179.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $184.20 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | $178.13 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maine | $182.44 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maryland | $197.71 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $203.83 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Michigan | $182.90 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $174.68 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New Jersey | $211.63 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New York | $187.24 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Oregon | $194.23 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $183.10 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $187.69 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Washington | $203.60 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $201.19 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $210.61 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $220.57 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $219.76 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $265.99 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $225.36 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $260.18 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $216.15 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $265.57 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $227.86 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $220.70 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $230.21 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $183.73 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota | $193.73 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine, ME | $193.25 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $202.44 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $180.51 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $186.30 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $245.00 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $192.72 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $197.36 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $192.26 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
| Washington, DC area | $225.32 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $177.12 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $187.27 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming | $194.95 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $209.62 | Unavailable |
71270 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$172.84
$237.81
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $224.63 | 1 |
| AL | $175.43 | 1 |
| AR | $172.84 | 1 |
| AZ | $190.59 | 1 |
| CA | $209.62–$265.99 | 29 |
| CO | $205.29 | 1 |
| CT | $208.88 | 1 |
| DC | $225.32 | 1 |
| DE | $193.81 | 1 |
| FL | $190.55–$206.56 | 3 |
| GA | $179.89–$198.89 | 2 |
| GU | $215.28 | 1 |
| HI | $215.28 | 1 |
| IA | $181.00 | 1 |
| ID | $181.99 | 1 |
| IL | $184.20–$202.44 | 4 |
| IN | $183.09 | 1 |
| KS | $179.65 | 1 |
| KY | $178.60 | 1 |
| LA | $178.13–$187.17 | 2 |
| MA | $203.83–$226.55 | 2 |
| MD | $197.71–$225.32 | 3 |
| ME | $182.44–$193.25 | 2 |
| MI | $182.90–$192.47 | 2 |
| MN | $198.02 | 1 |
| MO | $174.68–$188.44 | 3 |
| MS | $173.82 | 1 |
| MT | $195.72 | 1 |
| NC | $184.46 | 1 |
| ND | $193.94 | 1 |
| NE | $182.16 | 1 |
| NH | $201.58 | 1 |
| NJ | $211.63–$222.82 | 2 |
| NM | $183.72 | 1 |
| NV | $195.38 | 1 |
| NY | $187.24–$229.64 | 5 |
| OH | $182.53 | 1 |
| OK | $178.80 | 1 |
| OR | $194.23–$212.48 | 2 |
| PA | $183.10–$203.27 | 2 |
| PR | $197.36 | 1 |
| RI | $201.19 | 1 |
| SC | $183.73 | 1 |
| SD | $193.73 | 1 |
| TN | $180.51 | 1 |
| TX | $181.84–$204.28 | 8 |
| UT | $186.30 | 1 |
| VA | $192.26–$225.32 | 2 |
| VI | $197.36 | 1 |
| VT | $192.72 | 1 |
| WA | $203.60–$231.71 | 2 |
| WI | $187.27 | 1 |
| WV | $177.12 | 1 |
| WY | $194.95 | 1 |
How the 71270 rate is calculated
Each of 71270’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 · 71270
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.22
1.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.55
4.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.09
0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.8600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$195.73
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 71270
The CMS indicators that decide how 71270 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 71270
Chest CT, 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
71270 without 26 · national office
$195.73
Chest CT, without and with contrast
71270-26 · Professional component
$57.45
Pays only the interpretation and report.
71270 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 71250Chest CTDiagnostic, without contrast
- 71250 is for chest CT without contrast. Choose 71270 when the examination includes both unenhanced and contrast-enhanced imaging.
- 71260Chest CT with contrastContrast-enhanced images only
- 71260 is for chest CT with contrast only. Choose 71270 when unenhanced images are also obtained as part of the same diagnostic examination.
- 71271Lung screening CTLow-dose, without contrast
- 71271 is for low-dose lung cancer screening. Use 71270 for a diagnostic chest CT with both unenhanced and contrast-enhanced phases.
- 71275CT angiographyChest vessels
- 71275 describes chest CT angiography. Use 71270 for the combined-phase diagnostic chest CT protocol rather than an angiographic study.
71270 billing questions
When should 71270 be chosen instead of 71250 or 71260?
Use 71270 when the chest CT includes both an unenhanced acquisition and imaging after contrast. Use 71250 for an examination without contrast, and 71260 when it is performed with contrast only.
Can 71250 and 71260 be billed separately for the same examination?
Do not split the unenhanced and contrast phases of one examination into those two codes. Report 71270 for the combined protocol.
What do modifiers 26 and TC represent?
Modifier 26 reports the professional interpretation. Modifier TC reports the technical service, including equipment and staff; without either modifier, the 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.
How does 71270 differ from chest CT angiography?
71270 describes a diagnostic chest CT with unenhanced and contrast-enhanced phases. Use 71275 when the examination is CT angiography of the chest.
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
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