CPT code 73521: Hip X-ray, bilateral, two views2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Guam
Reports a two-view X-ray examination of both hips, commonly ordered to evaluate bilateral hip pain or suspected degenerative changes.
Medicare pays $46.14 for 73521 in the office in Guam (Hawaii, Guam, HI). 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 73521 covers
This service is a plain-film examination of both hip joints, with a pelvic image included when obtained as part of the exam. It is commonly ordered for bilateral hip pain, suspected osteoarthritis, or assessment of the hip joints after injury. A radiologic technologist obtains the images in an outpatient imaging center or hospital department, and a physician or other qualified interpreting professional reviews them and reports the findings.
Select the code when the documented examination covers both hips and includes two views. The order, image record, and interpretation should support the bilateral scope and view count. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.
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.
73521 in Hawaii, Guam, HI
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $46.14 | Unavailable |
How the 73521 rate is calculated
Each of 73521’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 · 73521
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.21
0.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.02
1.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.2500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$41.75
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 73521
The CMS indicators that decide how 73521 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 73521
Hip X-ray, bilateral, two views
| 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
73521 without 26 · national office
$41.75
Hip X-ray, bilateral, two views
73521-26 · Professional component
$10.69
Pays only the interpretation and report.
73521 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 73502Hip X-rayOne hip, 2-3 views
- 73502 covers one hip with two or three views; 73521 covers both hips with two views.
- 73522Hip X-rayBilateral, 3-4 views
- Both codes describe bilateral hip imaging. Choose 73521 for two views and 73522 for three or four.
- 73523Hip X-rayBilateral, five or more views
- 73523 is for a bilateral examination with five or more views; 73521 is for two views.
- 73525Hip arthrographyContrast imaging
- 73525 describes contrast imaging of the hip, unlike the standard bilateral hip radiographs reported with 73521.
73521 billing questions
How does this differ from 73502?
73521 describes a two-view examination of both hips. Code 73502 is for a unilateral hip examination with two or three views.
When should 73522 be selected instead?
Use 73522 when the bilateral hip examination includes three or four views rather than two.
Can the professional and technical services be reported separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Does an image of the pelvis change the code selection?
The examination may include a pelvic image when performed. Select the code based on the documented bilateral hip exam and its view count.
Should the code be reported once for each hip?
The code describes an examination of both hips, not a separate unilateral service for each side. The record should support that both hips were examined.
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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