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CPT code 71275: CT angiography, chest vessels2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports contrast-enhanced CT angiography of the chest to evaluate thoracic vessels, such as for suspected pulmonary embolism or acute aortic disease.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.6M Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $280.57 for 71275 nationally in the office.

Medicare rate · 71275

CT angiography, chest vessels

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
1.77
Total RVUs
8.40
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$280.57

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 71275 →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.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 71275 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 71275 covers

Chest CT angiography uses contrast timed to show blood flow through thoracic vessels. Common indications include evaluation for pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection, aneurysm, or another suspected vascular abnormality. A radiology team performs the scan, and a qualified practitioner interprets the images. The study may include noncontrast images when needed, and image postprocessing is part of the angiographic service.

Choose this code when the examination is planned and interpreted as vascular imaging of the chest, rather than as a routine chest CT. Documentation should identify the clinical question, the chest vessels examined, the imaging protocol, and the interpretation. Report the global service when one entity provides both the technical work and interpretation; use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation or TC for the technical service when those components are billed separately. CMS diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction applies 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 71275 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

71275 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

71275 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.

View every state and territory as a table
71275 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 71275 rate is calculated

Each of 71275’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 · 71275

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.77

1.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.49

6.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.14

0.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.4000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$280.57

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 71275

The CMS indicators that decide how 71275 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 71275

CT angiography, chest vessels

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

71275 without 26 · national office

$280.57

CT angiography, chest vessels

71275-26 · Professional component

$83.50

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

71275 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 71275

    CT angiography, chest vessels1.77 wRVU

    $280.57

  • 71260

    Chest CT with contrast, contrast-enhanced images only1.13 wRVU

    $166.67−$113.90

  • 71250

    Chest CT, diagnostic, without contrast1.05 wRVU

    $132.60−$147.97

  • 71270

    Chest CT, without and with contrast1.22 wRVU

    $195.73−$84.84

  • 71271

    Lung screening CT, low-dose, without contrast1.05 wRVU

    $136.28−$144.29

How to choose

71260Chest CT with contrastContrast-enhanced images only
71260 represents routine chest CT with contrast. Choose 71275 when the study is designed to image thoracic vessels angiographically.
71250Chest CTDiagnostic, without contrast
71250 is a noncontrast routine chest CT. It does not represent the contrast-enhanced vascular imaging performed for chest CTA.
71270Chest CTWithout and with contrast
71270 describes routine chest CT imaging without and with contrast. Use 71275 when the examination is an angiographic study of chest vessels.
71271Lung screening CTLow-dose, without contrast
71271 is low-dose, noncontrast lung cancer screening for eligible asymptomatic patients. It is not diagnostic CTA for suspected vascular disease.

Codes related to 71275

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

Codes related to 71275
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
71260Chest CT with contrast, contrast-enhanced images onlyRoutine chest CT with contrast for nonangiographic evaluation of thoracic findings.$147.46–$225.08
71250Chest CT, diagnostic, without contrastRoutine chest CT without contrast when the clinical question is not vascular angiography.$118.05–$177.45
71270Chest CT, without and with contrastRoutine chest CT performed without and with contrast, rather than a chest angiographic study.$172.84–$265.99
Often billed with
74174CTA abdomen/pelvis, with contrastMay accompany chest CTA when aortic evaluation also covers the abdomen and pelvis.$333.25–$516.71

71275 billing questions

When should this be reported instead of a routine chest CT?

Use 71275 for a chest angiographic study directed at thoracic vessels, such as evaluation for pulmonary embolism or acute aortic disease. A routine chest CT for lung or mediastinal findings is represented by a different chest CT code.

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. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

Is image postprocessing separately reported?

Image postprocessing is included in the CTA service. Do not separately report routine postprocessing as though it were an independent examination.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect this code?

CMS diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional components when applicable. It can affect payment when multiple diagnostic imaging services are furnished.

What documentation supports reporting 71275?

Document the vascular reason for the study, the chest vessels evaluated, the imaging protocol, and the interpretation. The record should support that the service was angiographic imaging rather than a routine chest CT.

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

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