CPT code 71271: Lung screening CT, low-dose, without contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Low-dose CT of the chest screens eligible asymptomatic patients for lung cancer and is reported when the study is performed under a screening indication.
Medicare pays $133.28–$144.40 for 71271 in the office in Florida, from Rest of Florida to Miami, FL. 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 71271 covers
Code 71271 represents a low-dose, noncontrast CT acquisition of the chest performed to screen for lung cancer, rather than to investigate symptoms or a known abnormality. A CT technologist typically performs the scan in an outpatient imaging department or imaging center, and a radiologist reviews the images for pulmonary nodules and other suspicious findings. The service is used for screening in eligible patients without lung cancer symptoms; a nodule already under diagnostic evaluation or a new respiratory complaint calls for diagnostic imaging selection instead.
Report 71271 for the screening study and retain documentation identifying its screening purpose and low-dose, noncontrast protocol; the radiology report supports the interpretation. A radiology group may bill the professional interpretation with modifier 26, the imaging facility may bill the equipment and staff with modifier TC, and a supplier furnishing the complete service bills globally without either modifier. CMS applies the diagnostic-imaging multiple-procedure reduction to both the technical and professional 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 71271 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$133.28 to $144.40
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $139.72 | Unavailable |
| Miami, FL | $144.40 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Florida | $133.28 | Unavailable |
How the 71271 rate is calculated
Each of 71271’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 · 71271
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.05
1.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.95
2.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.08
0.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.0800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$136.28
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 71271
The CMS indicators that decide how 71271 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 71271
Lung screening CT, low-dose, without 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
71271 without 26 · national office
$136.28
Lung screening CT, low-dose, without contrast
71271-26 · Professional component
$49.43
Pays only the interpretation and report.
71271 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 71250Chest CTDiagnostic, without contrast
- 71271 is low-dose, noncontrast imaging for lung cancer screening. 71250 is a diagnostic chest CT without contrast.
- 71260Chest CT with contrastContrast-enhanced images only
- 71260 is a diagnostic chest CT performed with contrast; 71271 is a low-dose, noncontrast screening study.
- 71270Chest CTWithout and with contrast
- 71270 is diagnostic chest imaging performed without and with contrast. 71271 is used for lung cancer screening without contrast.
- 71275CT angiographyChest vessels
- 71275 is chest CT angiography for vascular imaging. 71271 is a low-dose chest CT performed to screen for lung cancer.
71271 billing questions
When should 71271 be chosen over a diagnostic chest CT?
Use 71271 when the study is performed as low-dose lung cancer screening. A scan to evaluate symptoms, a known nodule, or another abnormal finding is diagnostic rather than screening.
How are the interpretation and scan acquisition billed?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. A supplier billing the complete service reports 71271 without either modifier.
Does the multiple-procedure reduction affect both components?
Yes. CMS applies the diagnostic-imaging multiple-procedure reduction to both the technical and professional components when applicable.
What documentation supports reporting 71271?
Document the screening indication and the low-dose, noncontrast chest CT protocol. The radiology report should support the interpretation billed.
Can 71271 be used to follow a previously identified lung nodule?
A study ordered to evaluate or monitor a known nodule is diagnostic imaging, not a screening examination. Select the diagnostic chest CT code that matches the study 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
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