CPT code 72132: Spine CT, lumbar, with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports CT imaging of the lumbar spine performed with contrast, including contrast-enhanced studies and the CT portion of a lumbar myelography examination.
Medicare pays $157.13–$175.71 for 72132 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont, TX to Austin, TX. 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.
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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 in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$157.13 to $175.71
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $175.71 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $157.13 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $167.20 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $168.10 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $166.88 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $167.59 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $169.24 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $161.96 | Unavailable |
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.
How the rate is built · 72132
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.19
1.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.77
3.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.09
0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.0500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$168.67
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72132
The CMS indicators that decide how 72132 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72132
Spine CT, lumbar, 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
72132 without 26 · national office
$168.67
Spine CT, lumbar, with contrast
72132-26 · Professional component
$56.11
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72132 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
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.
72132 billing questions
How is 72132 distinguished from 72131 and 72133?
Use 72132 when the lumbar CT is performed with contrast only. Choose 72131 for a noncontrast examination and 72133 when both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced series are acquired.
Can 72132 be reported for the CT portion of a myelogram?
Yes. When lumbar CT images are obtained after intrathecal contrast for myelography, 72132 reports the CT examination; the myelography service may be separately reportable when performed and documented.
Which modifiers identify the CT components?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Does the multiple procedure reduction affect both components?
Yes. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to the professional and technical components.
Is contrast injection included in 72132?
The code describes the CT examination, not a separately performed contrast-injection or myelography procedure. For a CT myelogram, report the distinct injection or myelography service when supported by the documented work.
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
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