CPT code 72270: Myelography, two or more spine regions2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Report this radiology service for a contrast myelographic examination that evaluates two or more spinal regions, such as cervical and thoracic levels.
Medicare pays $141.50–$175.82 for 72270 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.
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On this page 9 sections
What 72270 covers
A multi-region myelogram uses contrast introduced into the spinal canal to outline the thecal sac and nerve-root structures, with imaging of at least two spinal regions. A radiologist commonly supervises the examination and interprets the images in a hospital or imaging center; the study may help evaluate suspected canal narrowing, nerve-root compression, or other spinal abnormalities when myelography is indicated. For example, imaging may cover cervical and thoracic regions during the same examination.
Select this code when the documented myelographic study covers two or more spinal regions, rather than choosing a single-region myelography code for each region. The report should identify the regions examined and support the medical reason for the study. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for the equipment and staff portion, or neither modifier when billing the global service. The lumbar contrast-injection service may be separately reported when performed and supported by the record.
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 72270 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 payment localities
$141.50 to $175.82
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $141.78 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $141.52 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $150.50 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $172.16 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $162.85 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $149.74 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $142.39 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $148.19 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $147.62 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $175.82 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $150.83 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $172.07 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $145.27 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $175.45 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $152.09 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $148.11 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $153.62 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $162.72 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $141.50 | Unavailable |
How the 72270 rate is calculated
Each of 72270’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 · 72270
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.30
1.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.62
2.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.08
0.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$133.60
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72270
The CMS indicators that decide how 72270 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72270
Myelography, two or more spine regions
| 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
72270 without 26 · national office
$133.60
Myelography, two or more spine regions
72270-26 · Professional component
$60.12
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72270 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 72240MyelographyCervical spine
- Use 72240 when the myelographic examination is limited to the cervical region. Use 72270 when the documented study covers two or more spinal regions.
- 72255MyelographyThoracic spine
- Use 72255 for a thoracic-only myelographic study; this code represents a study spanning at least two regions.
- 72265MyelographyLumbar or lumbosacral region
- Use 72265 when the myelogram is limited to the lumbosacral region. A study that also examines another spinal region points to 72270.
- 72132Spine CTLumbar, with contrast
- 72132 reports lumbar CT with contrast, not the multi-region myelographic examination. It may describe a separate CT study performed after myelography.
72270 billing questions
When should this code be chosen instead of a single-region myelography code?
Use it when the documented myelographic examination covers at least two spinal regions. A study limited to cervical, thoracic, or lumbosacral anatomy is represented by the corresponding single-region code.
Can the contrast injection be reported separately?
A separately performed lumbar injection for myelography may be reported with 62284. The record should support the injection service as well as the multi-region imaging and interpretation.
Which modifier identifies the radiologist's interpretation?
Append modifier 26 for the professional interpretation. Modifier TC identifies the technical portion; billing without either modifier represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting the multi-region service?
Document the spinal regions examined, the myelographic imaging performed, and the findings or interpretation. The record should show that the examination included at least two regions.
Can a CT examination follow the myelogram on the same date?
Yes. A CT examination, such as lumbar spine CT with contrast, may follow a myelogram to assess the anatomy, and is reported when that separate service is performed and documented.
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
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