CPT code 72070: Thoracic spine X-ray, two views2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Reports a two-view X-ray examination of the thoracic spine, commonly obtained to assess pain, injury, vertebral alignment, or suspected fracture.
Medicare pays $33.07 for 72070 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $29.12–$44.86.
Medicare rate · 72070
Thoracic spine X-ray, two views
- Work RVUs
- 0.2
- Total RVUs
- 0.99
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$33.07
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 72070 →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 72070 covers
This service is a plain-film examination of the thoracic vertebrae using two radiographic views, typically an anteroposterior and a lateral projection. It is commonly ordered for thoracic back pain, suspected vertebral compression fracture, trauma, or assessment of spinal alignment. A radiologic technologist acquires the images; a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them. The study may be performed in a hospital, imaging center, or physician office with radiography equipment.
Report 72070 when the documented examination covers the thoracic spine and includes two views. Select a different code when the actual study includes a different number of views or covers a different spinal region. The imaging order and report should support the body region examined, views obtained, and diagnostic interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion, and an unmodified claim represents the global service.
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 72070 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
$29.12 to $44.86
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29.56 | Unavailable |
| Alaska | $37.78 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $32.17 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $29.12 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta, GA | $33.63 | Unavailable |
| Austin, TX | $34.50 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield, CA | $35.40 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore area, MD | $35.21 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $30.70 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $32.74 | Unavailable |
| Chicago, IL | $34.11 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $34.65 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $35.32 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $32.93 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $32.72 | Unavailable |
| Detroit, MI | $32.62 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $31.69 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $33.94 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $32.68 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $32.83 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $36.31 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $33.19 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $30.66 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $30.85 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $30.48 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $30.27 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $30.16 | Unavailable |
| King County, WA | $39.12 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $37.82 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan, NY | $38.05 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $43.88 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $38.26 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $31.48 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $34.37 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $31.83 | Unavailable |
| Miami, FL | $35.14 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $33.34 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $29.32 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Montana | $33.07 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $41.34 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $30.67 | Unavailable |
| Nevada | $32.98 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $34.04 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $31.07 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans, LA | $31.64 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $31.10 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota | $32.67 | Unavailable |
| Northern New Jersey | $37.65 | Unavailable |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $38.93 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $30.83 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $30.17 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $37.68 | Unavailable |
| Portland, OR | $35.86 | Unavailable |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $35.95 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $33.34 | Unavailable |
| Queens, NY | $38.47 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Florida | $32.27 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Georgia | $30.42 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $31.21 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | $30.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maine | $30.76 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maryland | $33.39 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $34.40 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Michigan | $30.92 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $29.50 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New Jersey | $35.77 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New York | $31.58 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Oregon | $32.77 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $30.92 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $31.69 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Washington | $34.36 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $33.97 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $35.56 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $37.19 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $37.05 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $44.86 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $38.00 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $43.86 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $36.45 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $44.77 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $38.43 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $37.21 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $38.82 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $31.01 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota | $32.62 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine, ME | $32.59 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $30.42 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $31.46 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $41.30 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $32.48 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $33.34 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $32.43 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
| Washington, DC area | $38.08 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $29.99 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $31.52 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming | $32.89 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $35.34 | Unavailable |
72070 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.
$29.12
$40.10
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 | $37.78 | 1 |
| AL | $29.56 | 1 |
| AR | $29.12 | 1 |
| AZ | $32.17 | 1 |
| CA | $35.34–$44.86 | 29 |
| CO | $34.65 | 1 |
| CT | $35.32 | 1 |
| DC | $38.08 | 1 |
| DE | $32.72 | 1 |
| FL | $32.27–$35.14 | 3 |
| GA | $30.42–$33.63 | 2 |
| GU | $36.31 | 1 |
| HI | $36.31 | 1 |
| IA | $30.48 | 1 |
| ID | $30.66 | 1 |
| IL | $31.21–$34.32 | 4 |
| IN | $30.85 | 1 |
| KS | $30.27 | 1 |
| KY | $30.16 | 1 |
| LA | $30.08–$31.64 | 2 |
| MA | $34.40–$38.26 | 2 |
| MD | $33.39–$38.08 | 3 |
| ME | $30.76–$32.59 | 2 |
| MI | $30.92–$32.62 | 2 |
| MN | $33.34 | 1 |
| MO | $29.50–$31.83 | 3 |
| MS | $29.32 | 1 |
| MT | $33.07 | 1 |
| NC | $31.10 | 1 |
| ND | $32.67 | 1 |
| NE | $30.67 | 1 |
| NH | $34.04 | 1 |
| NJ | $35.77–$37.65 | 2 |
| NM | $31.07 | 1 |
| NV | $32.98 | 1 |
| NY | $31.58–$38.93 | 5 |
| OH | $30.83 | 1 |
| OK | $30.17 | 1 |
| OR | $32.77–$35.86 | 2 |
| PA | $30.92–$34.37 | 2 |
| PR | $33.34 | 1 |
| RI | $33.97 | 1 |
| SC | $31.01 | 1 |
| SD | $32.62 | 1 |
| TN | $30.42 | 1 |
| TX | $30.70–$34.50 | 8 |
| UT | $31.46 | 1 |
| VA | $32.43–$38.08 | 2 |
| VI | $33.34 | 1 |
| VT | $32.48 | 1 |
| WA | $34.36–$39.12 | 2 |
| WI | $31.52 | 1 |
| WV | $29.99 | 1 |
| WY | $32.89 | 1 |
How the 72070 rate is calculated
Each of 72070’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 · 72070
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.20
0.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.77
0.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.9900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$33.07
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72070
The CMS indicators that decide how 72070 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72070
Thoracic spine X-ray, two views
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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
72070 without 26 · national office
$33.07
Thoracic spine X-ray, two views
72070-26 · Professional component
$9.69
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72070 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 72020Spine X-raySingle view
- 72020 is for a one-view spine radiograph. Report 72070 when two views of the thoracic spine are obtained.
- 72072Spine X-rayThoracic, three views
- 72072 represents three thoracic spine views; 72070 represents two.
- 72074Thoracic spine X-rayFour or more views
- 72074 is for four or more thoracic spine views, rather than the two-view study represented by 72070.
- 72080Spine X-rayThoracolumbar, 2 or 3 views
- 72080 applies to imaging of the thoracolumbar region, while 72070 is for the thoracic spine examination.
72070 billing questions
How is 72070 distinguished from 72072?
Use 72070 for a two-view thoracic spine examination and 72072 when three views are obtained. Base selection on the views documented for the completed study.
When should 72074 be used instead?
72074 describes a thoracic spine study with four or more views. It is not selected just because additional detail is discussed in the interpretation; the performed views must support it.
How are the professional and technical portions billed?
Report modifier 26 for the physician's interpretation and modifier TC for the equipment and staff portion when those portions are billed separately. An unmodified claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting two views?
The imaging record should identify the thoracic spine examination and document the two views acquired. The report should support the interpretation of that study.
Is a one-view thoracic study reported with 72070?
No. Code 72020 is the one-view spine radiograph code; 72070 is for two thoracic spine views.
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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