CPT code 73085: Contrast X-ray, elbow arthrography2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Report elbow arthrography imaging when contrast is used to evaluate the joint and a physician provides radiographic supervision and interpretation.
Medicare pays $103.28–$131.62 for 73085 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 73085 covers
Elbow arthrography uses contrast placed within the joint to outline its structures during radiographic imaging. Code 73085 represents the radiographic supervision and interpretation, commonly performed and documented by a radiologist; the contrast injection is a separate procedural service when performed. It may be ordered to assess suspected joint or capsular abnormalities when conventional elbow films do not provide the needed information.
Report the code for the elbow side examined and retain the imaging report, documented interpretation, and details identifying the side and arthrographic study. A claim without a component modifier represents the global service. Modifier 26 reports the professional interpretation, while modifier TC reports the technical work, equipment, and staff. For bilateral studies, each side is paid separately at 100%.
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 73085 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
$103.28 to $131.62
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $103.42 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $103.29 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $110.59 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $128.79 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $121.19 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $110.23 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $103.72 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $108.79 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $108.39 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $131.62 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $111.24 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $128.74 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $106.60 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $131.44 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $112.53 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $108.88 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $113.70 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $121.12 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $103.28 | Unavailable |
How the 73085 rate is calculated
Each of 73085’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 · 73085
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.53
0.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.31
2.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.04
0.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
2.8800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$96.19
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 73085
The CMS indicators that decide how 73085 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 73085
Contrast X-ray, elbow arthrography
| 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) | 3 | Each side paid at 100% (no 150% cap). |
| 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
73085 without 26 · national office
$96.19
Contrast X-ray, elbow arthrography
73085-26 · Professional component
$25.05
Pays only the interpretation and report.
73085 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 73070Elbow X-rayTwo views
- Choose 73070 for conventional elbow radiographs with two views. Use 73085 when the study is an elbow arthrogram with intra-articular contrast.
- 73080Elbow X-rayThree or more views
- 73080 covers conventional elbow radiographs with three or more views. It is not the contrast arthrography service represented by 73085.
- 24220Arthrographic injectionElbow joint
- 24220 represents the elbow arthrography injection procedure. Code 73085 represents the radiographic supervision and interpretation.
73085 billing questions
How does 73085 differ from 73070 or 73080?
73085 is for elbow arthrography using intra-articular contrast. Codes 73070 and 73080 are for conventional elbow radiographs, selected by the number of views.
Is the contrast injection included in 73085?
73085 represents the radiographic supervision and interpretation. The elbow arthrography injection may be reported separately with 24220 when that service is performed and documented.
When should modifier 26 or TC be used?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.
How is bilateral elbow arthrography handled?
Each side is paid separately at 100% when both elbows are examined. Document the side for each study and follow the applicable claim-line reporting instructions.
What documentation supports 73085?
Keep the order or clinical indication, documentation identifying the elbow side and contrast study, and the radiologist's interpretation. The report should support that arthrographic imaging was performed rather than routine elbow films.
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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