CPT code 73502: Hip X-ray, one hip, 2-3 views2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $48.77 for 73502 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $42.65–$67.39.

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

What 73502 covers

This study captures two or three radiographic projections of a single hip. A common examination includes an AP view, sometimes obtained as an AP pelvis, and a lateral view such as a frog-leg or cross-table lateral. It may be ordered for hip or groin pain, suspected femoral neck or intertrochanteric fracture after a fall, osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, or assessment after hip replacement. Radiologic technologists acquire the images in orthopedic offices, urgent care, imaging centers, and hospitals. Radiologists, orthopedists, or other treating physicians interpret them.

Count the distinct views in the unilateral hip examination, including an AP pelvis when it is part of that examination. Do not separately bill that included pelvis view. Documentation should identify the side, views, and findings in a signed interpretation. This diagnostic test has professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation only, and modifier TC identifies equipment and staff services when a technical component is billed under the physician fee schedule. An office that both acquires and interprets the images bills the global service without either component modifier.

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 73502 pays more and less

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

109 of 109 payment localities

73502 rates by state

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

How the 73502 rate is calculated

Each of 73502’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 73502

The CMS indicators that decide how 73502 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

73502 compared with similar codes

How to choose

73521Hip X-rayBilateral, two views

73502 covers one hip. When both hips are imaged, select a bilateral hip code from 73521-73523 according to the total number of views.

72170Pelvis X-rayOne or two views

72170 covers pelvis imaging alone. An AP pelvis obtained as part of a two- or three-view unilateral hip examination is included in 73502.

73503Hip X-rayUnilateral, four or more views

Four or more distinct views of one hip belong under 73503; two or three belong under 73502.

Codes related to 73502

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