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CPT code 72072: Spine X-ray, thoracic, three views2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Three-view thoracic spine radiography evaluates the mid-back for findings such as fracture, alignment changes, or degenerative disease.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality144.3K Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $36.45 for 72072 in the office.

$36.45Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
−5.9%vs the national office rate ($38.75)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 72072 nationwide

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

We’ll open 72072 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 72072 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 72072 covers

This service is an X-ray examination of the thoracic spine using three views. It is commonly ordered to assess mid-back pain, suspected injury or compression fracture, spinal alignment, or degenerative changes. A radiologic technologist acquires the images in a hospital, imaging center, or office; a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them and documents the findings. The views are selected to show the thoracic vertebrae and relevant anatomy, with the imaging protocol guided by the clinical question.

Report this code when the thoracic spine examination includes three views. The order and report should support the body region examined, the clinical reason, and the images obtained. CMS recognizes a professional component for interpretation and a technical component for equipment and staff: bill modifier 26 for the professional service, modifier TC for the technical service, or neither modifier when billing the global service. The recorded view count helps distinguish this examination from two-view and four-or-more-view thoracic spine studies.

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.

How North Carolina compares for 72072

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 72072 runs from $34.09 in Arkansas to $52.83 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $36.45. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

72072 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$36.45
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$44.45+$8.00
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$44.69+$8.24
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$41.03+$4.58
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$39.82+$3.37
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$44.58+$8.13
  7. Alaska · Alaska$44.12+$7.67

Other areas in North Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

72072 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$34.61—
ArkansasArkansas$34.09—
ArizonaArizona$37.70—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$41.57—
Chico, CACalifornia$41.51—
El Centro, CACalifornia$41.51—
Fresno, CACalifornia$41.51—
Hanford, CACalifornia$41.51—

72072 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.

$34.09

$47.17

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
72072 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$44.121
AL$34.611
AR$34.091
AZ$37.701
CA$41.51–$52.8329
CO$40.651
CT$41.401
DC$44.691
DE$38.351
FL$37.73–$41.033
GA$35.55–$39.392
GU$42.671
HI$42.671
IA$35.731
ID$35.931
IL$36.45–$40.144
IN$36.161
KS$35.461
KY$35.281
LA$35.18–$37.022
MA$40.36–$44.932
MD$39.13–$44.693
ME$36.03–$38.222
MI$36.16–$38.132
MN$39.171
MO$34.49–$37.273
MS$34.301
MT$38.741
NC$36.451
ND$38.351
NE$35.961
NH$39.921
NJ$41.93–$44.172
NM$36.331
NV$38.661
NY$37.01–$45.605
OH$36.081
OK$35.311
OR$38.42–$42.102
PA$36.19–$40.272
PR$39.071
RI$39.831
SC$36.311
SD$38.301
TN$35.641
TX$35.93–$40.478
UT$36.831
VA$38.03–$44.692
VI$39.071
VT$38.111
WA$40.31–$45.972
WI$36.991
WV$35.011
WY$38.571

See 72072 in every payment locality

How the 72072 rate is calculated

Each of 72072’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 · 72072

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.22

0.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.92

0.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.1600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$38.75

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

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,952

Code
72072
Physician work
0.22
Practice expense
0.92
Malpractice
0.02

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 72072 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.22× 1.0000.2200
Practice expense0.92× 0.9330.8584
Malpractice0.02× 0.6390.0128
Total RVUs1.0911
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$36.45

Office: (0.22 × 1 + 0.92 × 0.933 + 0.02 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $36.45

Open 72072 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 72072

The CMS indicators that decide how 72072 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 72072

Spine X-ray, thoracic, three views

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
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

72072 without 26 · national office

$38.75

Spine X-ray, thoracic, three views

72072-26 · Professional component

$10.35

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 72072

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

Codes related to 72072
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Same family
72070Thoracic spine X-ray, two viewsThoracic spine radiography with two views.$31.10
72074Thoracic spine X-ray, four or more viewsThoracic spine radiography with four or more views.$41.48
Used instead
72080Spine X-ray, thoracolumbar, 2 or 3 viewsThoracolumbar imaging when the examination covers that region.$32.97
72082Spine X-ray, entire spine, 2–3 viewsWhole-spine imaging with two or three views, rather than thoracic-only imaging.$67.38

How 72072 has changed in North Carolina

72072 · Office / nonfacility

$36.45

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.72 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $35.73 to $36.45 (2.0%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $35.73changed to$36.45

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.23 changed to 0.22
    • Practice expense RVU 0.93 changed to 0.92
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $37.07changed to$35.73

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 0.94 changed to 0.93

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $36.47changed to$37.07

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $37.51changed to$36.47

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.93 changed to 0.94
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $38.07changed to$37.51

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.92 changed to 0.93
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $37.42changed to$38.07

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 0.89 changed to 0.92

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $36.70changed to$37.42

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.83 changed to 0.89
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $34.60changed to$36.70

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Work RVU 0.22 changed to 0.23
    • Practice expense RVU 0.78 changed to 0.83
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $33.22changed to$34.60

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.74 changed to 0.78

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $32.81changed to$33.22

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 0.73 changed to 0.74
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $32.73changed to$32.81

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $32.52changed to$32.73

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 0.72 changed to 0.73

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $32.36changed to$32.52

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $36.03changed to$32.36

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.83 changed to 0.72
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $35.71changed to$36.03

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.88 changed to 0.83
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $35.71

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$36.45Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$36.45Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$36.45Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$36.45Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$35.73Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$35.73Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$35.73Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$35.73Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$37.07Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$37.07Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$37.07Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$37.07Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$36.47Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$37.51Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$37.51Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$37.51Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$37.51Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$38.07Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$38.07Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$38.07Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$38.07Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$37.42Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$37.42Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$37.42Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$37.42Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$36.70Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$36.70Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$36.70Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$36.70Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$34.60Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$34.60Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$34.60Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$34.60Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$33.22Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$33.22Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$33.22Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$33.22Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$32.81Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$32.81Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$32.81Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$32.81Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$32.73Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$32.73Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$32.73Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$32.73Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$32.52Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$32.52Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$32.36Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$32.36Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$36.03Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$36.03Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$36.03Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$36.03Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$35.71Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$35.71Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$35.71Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$35.71Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 72072 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

72072 billing questions

How does this differ from 72070?

72070 is for a two-view thoracic spine examination. Report 72072 when three views are obtained and documented.

When is 72074 more appropriate?

Use 72074 when four or more thoracic spine views are performed. The number of views obtained distinguishes it from this three-view study.

Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?

Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff service. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.

What documentation supports reporting three views?

The imaging record should identify the thoracic spine examination and show that three views were acquired. The report should document the interpretation and the clinical indication.

Should this code be used for imaging of the entire spine?

No. This code describes a thoracic spine examination only. A whole-spine study is distinguished by its coverage and view count.

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
RVUs for 72072PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,952 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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