CPT code 72127: Cervical spine CT, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports a cervical spine CT with image acquisition both before and after contrast, often selected when evaluation requires bone detail and contrast-enhanced findings.
Medicare pays $209.93–$266.25 for 72127 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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
On this page 9 sections
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 in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$209.93 to $266.25
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $210.23 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $209.95 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $224.50 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $260.54 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $245.42 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $223.69 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $210.92 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $220.88 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $220.06 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $266.25 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $225.65 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $260.44 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $216.45 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $265.83 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $228.14 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $221.00 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $230.48 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $245.27 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $209.93 | Unavailable |
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.
How the rate is built · 72127
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.24
1.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.54
4.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.09
0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.8700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$196.06
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72127
The CMS indicators that decide how 72127 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72127
Cervical spine CT, without and with contrast
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 4 | Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services. |
| 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
72127 without 26 · national office
$196.06
Cervical spine CT, without and with contrast
72127-26 · Professional component
$58.12
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72127 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
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.
72127 billing questions
When should this code be selected instead of 72125 or 72126?
The combined examination is reported with this code when both phases are performed as one cervical spine CT study; do not separately report the two phases as 72125 and 72126 for that same study.
How are the professional and technical services billed?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.
Does a multiple procedure reduction affect this code?
CMS diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction applies to both the professional and technical components when applicable.
What documentation supports reporting the combined examination?
Document the cervical spine study, the clinical indication, and that imaging was performed both before and after contrast. The record should support why both phases were obtained.
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
Fee sheets
Put 72127 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Build my fee sheet