CPT code 73525: Hip arthrography, contrast imaging2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $133.27 for 73525 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $116.40–$184.78.

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

What 73525 covers

This service covers radiographic imaging and physician interpretation of a hip arthrogram. Contrast is introduced into the hip joint so the images can show the joint and its internal structures; the imaging is commonly performed with fluoroscopy. Radiologists typically perform or interpret the study in a hospital or imaging center, often as part of an evaluation for suspected intra-articular disease or injury.

Report the service for the contrast imaging and interpretation, not for the joint injection itself. The record should support the hip and side examined, the contrast imaging performed, and the interpreting physician’s findings. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for interpretation alone, modifier TC for equipment and staff alone, or no component modifier for the global service. When both hips are examined, CMS pays each side 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 73525 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

73525 rates by state

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

How the 73525 rate is calculated

Each of 73525’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 73525

The CMS indicators that decide how 73525 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

73525 compared with similar codes

How to choose

27093Hip arthrogram injectionWithout anesthesia

27093 represents the hip joint injection for arthrography; 73525 represents the radiographic imaging and interpretation. They may be reported together when both services are performed.

73502Hip X-rayOne hip, 2-3 views

73502 is for routine noncontrast imaging of one hip. Choose 73525 when the study is a contrast arthrogram.

73521Hip X-rayBilateral, two views

73521 reports routine bilateral hip radiographs, not contrast joint imaging. The distinction is the contrast arthrogram service, not simply imaging both hips.

Codes related to 73525

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