CPT code 72127: Cervical spine CT, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $196.06 for 72127 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $173.22–$266.25.

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

What 72127 covers

This study images the cervical vertebrae and surrounding structures using CT, with acquisitions made before and after contrast administration. It may be selected when the clinical question, such as suspected infection or a tumor, calls for both noncontrast bone detail and assessment of contrast-enhanced findings. A radiologic technologist typically performs the scan, and a radiologist interprets the images in a hospital or imaging center.

Report this code when the same cervical spine CT examination includes both noncontrast and post-contrast imaging; the two phases are represented by one code. Use the contrast-only or noncontrast-only cervical CT code when only that acquisition is performed. Documentation should support the cervical anatomy examined, both imaging phases, and the indication. The service has professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff service, and no component modifier represents the global service. 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 72127 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

72127 rates by state

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

How the 72127 rate is calculated

Each of 72127’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 72127

The CMS indicators that decide how 72127 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

72127 compared with similar codes

How to choose

72125Cervical spine CTWithout contrast

72125 is for a cervical spine CT without contrast only. Choose this code when the examination includes both noncontrast and post-contrast imaging.

72126CT spineCervical, contrast only

72126 describes a cervical spine CT with contrast only. This code represents an examination with both noncontrast and post-contrast phases.

72156Spine MRICervical spine, without and with contrast

72156 is an MRI examination of the cervical spine without and with contrast. This code is for CT of the same region and contrast phases.

Codes related to 72127

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