CPT code 73650: Heel X-ray, calcaneus study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports radiographic imaging of the heel bone, generally for localized heel pain, suspected calcaneal fracture, or another condition centered on the calcaneus.
Medicare pays $29.53–$32.88 for 73650 in the office in Massachusetts, from Rest of Massachusetts to Metropolitan Boston, MA. 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 73650 covers
This study images the calcaneus, the heel bone, with at least two radiographic views. It is commonly ordered for focal heel pain, trauma with concern for a calcaneal fracture, or evaluation of a heel abnormality such as a spur. A radiologic technologist typically obtains the images in an office, imaging center, or hospital; a physician interprets them and documents the findings.
Choose this code when the imaging is specifically of the calcaneus, rather than a broader foot or ankle examination. The order and report should identify the heel examined and support the clinical reason for imaging. When one billing entity provides both image acquisition and interpretation, report the global service; use modifier 26 for the interpretation alone or TC for the technical service alone when those components are billed separately. For bilateral studies, 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 73650 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $32.88 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $29.53 | Unavailable |
How the 73650 rate is calculated
Each of 73650’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 · 73650
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.16
0.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.67
0.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.8500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$28.39
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 73650
The CMS indicators that decide how 73650 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 73650
Heel X-ray, calcaneus study
| 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) | 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
73650 without 26 · national office
$28.39
Heel X-ray, calcaneus study
73650-26 · Professional component
$7.68
Pays only the interpretation and report.
73650 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 73620Foot X-rayTwo views
- This code is for calcaneus-focused imaging; 73620 is for radiographs of the foot. Select according to the anatomic examination performed.
- 73630Foot X-rayComplete, at least three views
- Use this code for a heel-focused study. Code 73630 describes a complete foot examination, not an isolated calcaneus study.
- 73600Ankle X-rayTwo views
- This code images the calcaneus, while 73600 is for an ankle examination. A heel complaint alone does not make the study an ankle X-ray.
73650 billing questions
When should this code be chosen instead of a foot X-ray?
Use it for imaging centered on the calcaneus. A broader examination of the foot, rather than a heel-focused study, points to a foot radiography code.
How many views are required?
The study requires at least two radiographic views of the calcaneus. The order and imaging documentation should support the heel examination performed.
Can the interpretation and image acquisition be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and TC identifies the technical service; without a component modifier, the claim represents the global service.
How is a bilateral heel study reported for Medicare payment?
CMS pays each side separately at 100% when both heels are examined. The documentation should identify the side or sides imaged.
What documentation supports this code?
Document the clinical indication, that the calcaneus was imaged, the side examined, and the views obtained. The interpreting physician's report should address the heel findings.
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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