CPT code 72240: Myelography, cervical spine2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports fluoroscopic myelographic imaging and interpretation of the cervical spine after intrathecal contrast, such as when evaluating suspected canal or nerve-root abnormalities.
Medicare pays $100.82–$108.07 for 72240 in the office in Missouri, from Rest of Missouri to Metropolitan St. Louis, MO. 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 72240 covers
Cervical myelography uses fluoroscopic imaging after contrast has been introduced into the spinal fluid to show the cervical spinal canal and related structures. A radiologist typically supervises the imaging and interprets the resulting study. It may be used to assess suspected cervical canal narrowing, nerve-root compression, or postsurgical anatomy, including when other imaging does not adequately answer the clinical question. The service is reported for the cervical region, not for a study covering multiple spinal regions.
Choose this code when the documented myelographic imaging and interpretation cover the cervical spine. The report should identify the region examined and describe the relevant findings; the record should support that a myelographic study was performed. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. The technical component accounts for the imaging resources, while the professional component represents the physician’s interpretation.
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 72240 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$100.82 to $108.07
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $106.97 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $108.07 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $100.82 | Unavailable |
How the 72240 rate is calculated
Each of 72240’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 · 72240
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.89
0.89 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.39
2.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.07
0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.3500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$111.89
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72240
The CMS indicators that decide how 72240 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72240
Myelography, cervical spine
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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
72240 without 26 · national office
$111.89
Myelography, cervical spine
72240-26 · Professional component
$43.09
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72240 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 72255MyelographyThoracic spine
- 72255 applies to thoracic myelographic imaging; 72240 applies to the cervical region.
- 72265MyelographyLumbar or lumbosacral region
- 72265 applies to lumbosacral myelographic imaging; 72240 applies to the cervical region.
- 72270MyelographyTwo or more spine regions
- Use 72270 when the myelographic study covers two or more spinal regions. Use 72240 when the documented imaging is cervical only.
72240 billing questions
When should 72240 be selected instead of 72270?
Use 72240 for myelographic imaging of the cervical region alone. 72270 is the sibling code for a study covering two or more spinal regions.
How does 72240 differ from 72255 or 72265?
The distinction is the spinal region imaged: 72240 is cervical, 72255 is thoracic, and 72265 is lumbosacral.
Which modifier identifies the radiologist’s interpretation?
Append modifier 26 when billing only the professional interpretation. Modifier TC identifies the technical component; billing without either modifier represents the global service.
Does 72240 cover the contrast injection?
72240 represents cervical myelographic imaging with supervision and interpretation. The CMS component information identifies professional and technical portions but does not specify separate payment for contrast placement.
What documentation supports reporting 72240?
Document the cervical region examined and retain the myelographic imaging interpretation describing the findings. The record should support that the study was limited to the cervical region rather than multiple spinal regions.
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.
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