CPT code 72129: Spine CT, thoracic, with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama

In Alabama, Medicare pays $152.21 for 72129 in the office.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 72129 nationwide

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

What 72129 covers

This service is a CT examination of the thoracic spine acquired after contrast administration, with images interpreted for vertebral and surrounding spinal findings. Radiology departments and imaging centers commonly perform it; a radiologist typically interprets the study. Clinical situations may include evaluation of a suspected enhancing vertebral or paraspinal abnormality, such as a neoplasm or infection, when the imaging protocol calls for contrast-only CT.

Select this code when the documented examination is of the thoracic spine and uses contrast without a separate noncontrast series. The order, imaging report, and protocol should support the spinal region and contrast technique; use the combined-study code when both noncontrast and contrast acquisitions are performed. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and no modifier represents the global service. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are reported, 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.

How Alabama compares for 72129

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 72129 runs from $150.04 in Arkansas to $228.27 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $152.21. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

72129 rates by state

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

See 72129 in every payment locality

How the 72129 rate is calculated

Each of 72129’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 72129

The CMS indicators that decide how 72129 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 72129

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

How 72129 has changed in Alabama

Price 72129 for an earlier date of service

Where the Alabama rate applies

Alabama is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 595 cities and communities in Alabama. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Abanda
• Abbeville
• Adamsville
• Addison
• Akron
• Alabaster
• Albertville
• Alexander City

Browse all communities in Alabama

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