CPT code 72265: Myelography, lumbar or lumbosacral region2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

Medicare pays $117.54–$148.14 for 72265 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. 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.

What 72265 covers

A lumbar or lumbosacral myelogram uses contrast introduced into the spinal canal, followed by radiographic imaging to show the canal and nearby nerve roots. A radiologist typically supervises the imaging and interprets the resulting study. It may help assess anatomy when evaluating suspected narrowing, nerve-root involvement, or changes after prior spine surgery, including when additional detail is needed beyond other imaging.

Report 72265 for the myelographic study of the lumbar or lumbosacral region, rather than for the contrast injection alone. Documentation should identify the region examined and include the myelographic images and interpretation. The contrast injection may be reported separately with 62284 when performed. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 reports the interpretation, modifier TC reports the equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.

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 72265 pays more and less in California

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 72265 rate is calculated

Each of 72265’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 72265

The CMS indicators that decide how 72265 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

72265 compared with similar codes

How to choose

72240MyelographyCervical spine

This code is for a cervical myelogram; 72265 is for the lumbar or lumbosacral region.

72255MyelographyThoracic spine

This code is for a thoracic myelogram; 72265 is for the lumbar or lumbosacral region.

72270MyelographyTwo or more spine regions

Use 72270 when the myelographic examination covers two or more spinal regions. Use 72265 for the lumbar or lumbosacral region alone.

62284Myelogram injectionSpinal, excluding C1-C2

62284 reports the spinal contrast injection for myelography or CT; 72265 reports the lumbar or lumbosacral myelographic imaging service.

Codes related to 72265

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