CPT code 72132: Spine CT, lumbar, with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $168.67 for 72132 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $149.46–$227.31.

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

What 72132 covers

This service covers CT image acquisition and interpretation focused on the lumbar spine after contrast administration. Radiologists commonly interpret the study in hospital or outpatient imaging settings; CT myelography is a familiar clinical context, with images obtained after contrast is introduced into the spinal canal. The code identifies the CT examination, not the contrast-injection procedure itself.

Select this code when the documented lumbar CT uses contrast without also acquiring a noncontrast series. Use 72131 for lumbar CT without contrast and 72133 when both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced series are obtained. The report should identify the lumbar anatomy examined, contrast use, and the findings and interpretation. The service has separately priced professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for interpretation, modifier TC for equipment and staff, or neither for the global service. The diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional 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 72132 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

72132 rates by state

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

How the 72132 rate is calculated

Each of 72132’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 72132

The CMS indicators that decide how 72132 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

72132 compared with similar codes

How to choose

72131Lumbar CTWithout contrast

72131 is for lumbar CT without contrast. Use 72132 when contrast is administered and no noncontrast series is also acquired.

72133Lumbar CTWithout and with contrast

72133 represents lumbar CT with both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced series; 72132 represents the contrast-enhanced examination alone.

72149MRIContrast only

72149 is lumbar MRI with contrast, not CT. Select the code that matches the imaging modality actually performed.

Codes related to 72132

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