CPT code 72126: CT spine, cervical, contrast only2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $168.34 for 72126 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $149.17–$226.83.

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

What 72126 covers

This service is a CT examination of the cervical spine performed with contrast. It is commonly used after cervical myelography to assess the spinal canal and nerve roots, including when MRI is unsuitable or more detail is needed for a specific finding. A radiologist interprets the images; the technical service includes the scanner, acquisition, and supporting staff. The examination may be performed in a hospital or an imaging center.

Choose this code when the cervical CT uses contrast only. Use the sibling code for a study performed both before and after contrast, and the noncontrast sibling when no contrast is used. The order and report should support the cervical anatomy examined, the contrast protocol, and the clinical question. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for interpretation, TC for the technical service, or neither for the global service. When multiple diagnostic imaging services are performed, the multiple procedure reduction applies to both components.

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 72126 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

72126 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 72126 rate is calculated

Each of 72126’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 72126

The CMS indicators that decide how 72126 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

72126 compared with similar codes

How to choose

72125Cervical spine CTWithout contrast

Choose 72125 for a cervical CT without contrast; choose 72126 when contrast is used for the CT examination.

72127Cervical spine CTWithout and with contrast

72127 represents cervical CT imaging both before and after contrast; 72126 is for contrast-only imaging.

72142Spine MRICervical, contrast only

72142 is cervical MRI with contrast, not CT. Select according to the imaging modality performed and documented.

Codes related to 72126

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates