CPT code 73700: Extremity CT, without contrast material2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $130.26 for 73700 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $115.71–$174.85.

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

What 73700 covers

This service is a CT examination of a lower extremity acquired without contrast material. A technologist performs the scan in a hospital, emergency department, or freestanding imaging center, and a radiologist typically interprets the images. Orthopedic and emergency clinicians may order it to evaluate findings such as a suspected fracture, bone abnormality, or orthopedic hardware, depending on the clinical question and imaging protocol.

Report the code when the performed study covers a lower extremity without contrast; use the contrast-specific code when contrast is administered. The order, imaging record, and report should support the body region, side, clinical indication, and protocol performed. The global service includes the technical work and interpretation; modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical service. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures trigger the multiple-procedure reduction, it applies to both components. 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 73700 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

73700 rates by state

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

How the 73700 rate is calculated

Each of 73700’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 73700

The CMS indicators that decide how 73700 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

73700 compared with similar codes

How to choose

73701Extremity CTWith contrast

Use 73700 for a lower-extremity CT without contrast; 73701 describes the corresponding CT examination with contrast.

73702CT scanWithout and with contrast

73702 is for a lower-extremity CT performed without and with contrast, rather than a study performed only without contrast.

73718MRINonjoint, without contrast

73718 is MRI of a lower extremity without contrast. Choose between it and 73700 based on the modality actually performed.

73721Lower extremity joint MRIWithout contrast

73721 is noncontrast MRI focused on a lower-extremity joint; 73700 reports CT of a lower extremity without contrast.

Codes related to 73700

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