CPT code 72157: Thoracic MRI, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $318.64 for 72157 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $282.38–$429.92.

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

What 72157 covers

This service covers MRI imaging of the thoracic spine, the mid-back portion of the spine, with images obtained before and after contrast administration. A radiologic technologist performs the image acquisition in an imaging center or hospital department; a radiologist interprets the study. Clinical uses can include evaluating suspected spinal cord or nerve abnormalities, tumors, infection, or changes after thoracic spine surgery when both contrast phases are requested and performed.

Report one study when the examination includes both the noncontrast and postcontrast imaging phases. The order and report should support the thoracic region examined, the use of both phases, and the clinical indication. CMS permits separate professional and technical component billing: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. When multiple diagnostic imaging services are performed, CMS's imaging multiple procedure reduction applies to both the professional and technical 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.

Where 72157 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

72157 rates by state

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

How the 72157 rate is calculated

Each of 72157’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 72157

The CMS indicators that decide how 72157 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

72157 compared with similar codes

How to choose

72146Spine MRIThoracic, without contrast

72146 is for a thoracic MRI performed without contrast only; use 72157 when the study includes both precontrast and postcontrast imaging.

72147Thoracic MRIWith contrast only

72147 describes a thoracic MRI performed with contrast only. Select 72157 when the examination includes both noncontrast and postcontrast phases.

72130Thoracic spine CTWithout and with contrast

72130 is a thoracic spine CT performed without and with contrast. Choose between it and 72157 according to whether the performed study is CT or MRI.

72156Spine MRICervical spine, without and with contrast

72156 uses the same without-and-with-contrast MRI approach for the cervical spine; 72157 is for the thoracic spine.

Codes related to 72157

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