CPT code 73222: Joint MRI, upper extremity, with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Michigan
Reports MRI evaluation of an upper-extremity joint after contrast administration, commonly for focused assessment of structures such as the shoulder labrum or wrist cartilage.
Medicare pays $290.82–$306.19 for 73222 in the office in Michigan, from Rest of Michigan to Detroit, MI. 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 73222 covers
This service captures MRI images of a specific upper-extremity joint after contrast is administered, often as a direct MR arthrogram when contrast is placed into the joint. It can help assess structures such as the shoulder labrum or wrist cartilage when internal derangement is suspected. A radiology team performs image acquisition, and a qualified physician interprets the study in hospital or outpatient imaging settings.
Select this code for a contrast-enhanced, joint-focused examination, not an MRI of the broader arm or hand region or a joint study using both pre- and post-contrast sequences. Documentation should identify the joint and side, clinical indication, contrast-enhanced acquisition, and interpretation. CMS permits global billing or separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. When multiple diagnostic imaging services are performed, the multiple-procedure reduction applies to both components. For bilateral examinations, 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 73222 pays more and less in Michigan
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $306.19 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Michigan | $290.82 | Unavailable |
How the 73222 rate is calculated
Each of 73222’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 · 73222
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.58
1.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.67
7.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.11
0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
9.3600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$312.63
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 73222
The CMS indicators that decide how 73222 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 73222
Joint MRI, upper extremity, with contrast
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 4 | Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services. |
| 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
73222 without 26 · national office
$312.63
Joint MRI, upper extremity, with contrast
73222-26 · Professional component
$75.15
Pays only the interpretation and report.
73222 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 73221Joint MRIUpper extremity, no contrast
- 73221 is for an upper-extremity joint MRI without contrast; 73222 is for the contrast-enhanced joint study.
- 73223Joint MRIWithout and with contrast
- 73223 applies when the joint is imaged both before and after contrast. Choose 73222 when the examination is performed with contrast only.
- 73219Extremity MRIContrast, non-joint area
- 73219 describes MRI of an upper-extremity region with contrast, not a joint-focused MRI. Use 73222 when the target is a specific joint.
73222 billing questions
How does this differ from 73223?
Use 73222 for the contrast-enhanced joint MRI. Code 73223 describes a joint MRI performed both before and after contrast.
When should 73221 be used instead?
Use 73221 for an upper-extremity joint MRI without contrast. Use 73222 when the joint study is performed with contrast.
Is a joint injection included in this code?
This code identifies the MRI service. A separately performed injection for arthrography may be reported under the appropriate injection code when documentation and coding requirements are met.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 reports the professional interpretation, and modifier TC reports the technical service; billing without either modifier represents the global service.
How is a bilateral examination paid?
CMS pays each side separately at 100%. Documentation should identify the joint examined on each side.
What documentation supports choosing 73222?
Document the specific joint and side, the clinical reason for imaging, use of contrast, and the imaging interpretation.
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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