CPT code 74021: Abdominal X-ray, three or more views2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports abdominal radiography using at least three views, often to assess abdominal pain, bowel gas patterns, suspected obstruction, or a radiopaque foreign body.
Medicare pays $45.07–$57.20 for 74021 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. 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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On this page 9 sections
What 74021 covers
This service is an abdominal X-ray examination using three or more views to show the distribution of bowel gas and other radiopaque findings. It may be ordered for abdominal pain or suspected ileus or bowel obstruction, and can help evaluate a radiopaque foreign body. Radiologic technologists acquire the images; a physician, commonly a radiologist, interprets the study. It is performed in settings such as hospital imaging departments and outpatient radiology centers.
Select this code when the documented abdominal study includes at least three views; the number and types of views should support that selection. Report the study once rather than billing separately for each image. Documentation should identify the views obtained and support the clinical reason for imaging. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 represents the interpretation, modifier TC represents 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.
Where 74021 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$45.07 to $57.20
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $45.13 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $48.21 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $55.97 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $52.71 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $48.03 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $45.29 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $47.42 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $47.25 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $57.20 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $48.46 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $55.95 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $46.47 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $57.11 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $49.00 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $47.45 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $49.50 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $52.68 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $45.07 | Unavailable |
How the 74021 rate is calculated
Each of 74021’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 · 74021
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.26
0.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.98
0.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.2600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$42.09
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 74021
The CMS indicators that decide how 74021 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 74021
Abdominal X-ray, three or more 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
74021 without 26 · national office
$42.09
Abdominal X-ray, three or more views
74021-26 · Professional component
$12.36
Pays only the interpretation and report.
74021 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 74018Abdomen X-raySingle view (KUB)
- 74018 is for an abdominal study with one view; 74021 requires at least three abdominal views.
- 74019Abdominal X-rayTwo views
- 74019 applies to a two-view abdominal study. Choose 74021 when three or more abdominal views are documented.
- 74022Abdominal X-rayComplete acute abdomen series
- 74022 describes an acute abdomen series that includes chest imaging. Use 74021 for the abdominal study when it does not meet that series description.
74021 billing questions
Does each abdominal view generate a separate unit?
No. Report the radiographic study, not a separate unit for every image; the record should support the number and types of views.
How are the professional and technical portions billed?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
How does 74021 differ from an acute abdomen series?
74021 represents an abdominal study with at least three views. The acute abdomen series code, 74022, includes chest imaging as part of the series.
What documentation supports reporting 74021?
The imaging record should identify at least three abdominal views, and the report should document the findings and interpretation. The order or clinical record should support the reason for the examination.
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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