CPT code 73120: Hand X-ray, two views2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports a two-view hand radiograph for evaluation of injuries, pain, or joint changes when the diagnostic study covers the hand.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities232K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $31.40 for 73120 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $27.49–$42.89.

Medicare rate · 73120

Hand X-ray, two views

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.16
Total RVUs
0.94
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$31.40

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 73120 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 73120 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 73120 covers

This code represents a two-view radiographic study of the hand, commonly ordered to assess a suspected fracture, hand pain, or degenerative joint changes. A radiologic technologist obtains the images in an office or facility setting; a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them. Use it when the documented study consists of two views of the hand rather than a broader three-or-more-view hand series or a focused finger examination.

Documentation should identify the hand examined, the reason for imaging, and the views obtained. The global service is reported without a component modifier; report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation alone or TC for the technical service, which includes equipment and staff. When both hands are examined, each side is paid separately at 100%; report laterality using the applicable Medicare claim format.

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 73120 pays more and less

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

109 payment localities

$27.49 to $42.89

$27.49$35.19$42.89
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

73120 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$27.93Unavailable
Alaska$35.42Unavailable
Arizona$30.51Unavailable
Arkansas$27.49Unavailable
Atlanta, GA$31.95Unavailable
Austin, TX$32.80Unavailable
Bakersfield, CA$33.67Unavailable
Baltimore area, MD$33.49Unavailable
Beaumont, TX$29.06Unavailable
Brazoria, TX$31.06Unavailable

73120 rates by state

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

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$27.49

$38.25

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
73120 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$35.421
AL$27.931
AR$27.491
AZ$30.511
CA$33.61–$42.8929
CO$32.941
CT$33.601
DC$36.281
DE$31.051
FL$30.62–$33.463
GA$28.78–$31.952
GU$34.591
HI$34.591
IA$28.841
ID$29.011
IL$29.56–$32.644
IN$29.201
KS$28.631
KY$28.521
LA$28.45–$29.992
MA$32.69–$36.472
MD$31.70–$36.283
ME$29.11–$30.922
MI$29.27–$30.972
MN$31.661
MO$27.88–$30.183
MS$27.691
MT$31.401
NC$29.451
ND$31.001
NE$29.031
NH$32.351
NJ$34.01–$35.842
NM$29.421
NV$31.311
NY$29.93–$37.115
OH$29.191
OK$28.531
OR$31.10–$34.132
PA$29.28–$32.662
PR$31.671
RI$32.261
SC$29.371
SD$30.951
TN$28.781
TX$29.06–$32.808
UT$29.811
VA$30.77–$36.282
VI$31.671
VT$30.811
WA$32.65–$37.302
WI$29.871
WV$28.361
WY$31.221

How the 73120 rate is calculated

Each of 73120’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 · 73120

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.16

0.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.76

0.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.9400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$31.40

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 73120

The CMS indicators that decide how 73120 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 73120

Hand X-ray, two views

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)3Each side paid at 100% (no 150% cap).
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

73120 without 26 · national office

$31.40

Hand X-ray, two views

73120-26 · Professional component

$8.02

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

73120 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 73120

    Hand X-ray, two views0.16 wRVU

    $31.40

  • 73130

    Hand X-ray, minimum of three views0.17 wRVU

    $38.08+$6.68

  • 73140

    Finger X-ray, one or more fingers0.13 wRVU

    $39.41+$8.01

  • 73110

    Wrist X-ray, complete, minimum three views0.17 wRVU

    $42.75+$11.35

How to choose

73130Hand X-rayMinimum of three views
Both codes cover hand radiography; choose 73120 for two views and 73130 for three or more views.
73140Finger X-rayOne or more fingers
73140 is for a focused finger examination. Choose 73120 for a two-view study of the hand.
73110Wrist X-rayComplete, minimum three views
73110 covers a three-or-more-view wrist examination. Choose 73120 when the study covers the hand and includes two views.

73120 billing questions

When should 73120 be used instead of 73130?

Use 73120 when the hand study consists of two views. Use 73130 when three or more views of the hand are obtained and documented.

Can the interpretation and image-taking service be billed separately?

Yes. Report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation or TC for the technical service; without either modifier, the code represents the global service.

How is imaging of both hands reported?

Each side is paid separately at 100%. Identify the right and left sides using the applicable Medicare claim format.

Does a hand X-ray include a separate finger study?

A separately performed, focused finger examination may be reported with the finger radiograph code when supported by the order and documentation. Do not select a finger code solely because fingers appear in a hand image.

What documentation supports this code?

The record should support the clinical reason for imaging, the hand examined, and that two views were obtained. The interpretation should document the physician's findings when the professional component is billed.

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
RVUs for 73120PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,144 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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