CPT code 74170: Abdominal CT, without and with contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Louisiana
Reports an abdominal CT with images acquired before and after contrast when both phases are needed to evaluate an abdominal organ or lesion.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 74170 in Louisiana.
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 74170 covers
This examination combines unenhanced abdominal CT images with additional images after contrast administration. The unenhanced phase provides a baseline for comparison with contrast enhancement, which can help characterize findings such as an abdominal organ lesion. A radiologic technologist typically performs the scan in a hospital or outpatient imaging center, and a radiologist interprets the images.
Select this code when the documented study covers the abdomen and includes both phases; a single-phase examination belongs to a different code. The order and report should support why both phases were obtained and identify the anatomy imaged. The physician may report the interpretation with modifier 26, the imaging site may report equipment and staff with modifier TC, or the global service may be billed without a component modifier. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the technical and professional components when applicable.
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 74170 pays more and less in Louisiana
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | Unavailable | Unavailable |
How the 74170 rate is calculated
Each of 74170’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 · 74170
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.37
1.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.29
6.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.09
0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
7.7500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$258.86
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 74170
The CMS indicators that decide how 74170 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 74170
Abdominal CT, without and with contrast
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 4 | Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services. |
| 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
74170 without 26 · national office
$258.86
Abdominal CT, without and with contrast
74170-26 · Professional component
$64.13
Pays only the interpretation and report.
74170 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 74150CT abdomenWithout contrast
- Choose 74150 when the abdominal CT is performed without contrast only. It does not represent the additional post-contrast phase included in 74170.
- 74160Abdominal CTWith contrast
- Choose 74160 for an abdominal CT with contrast only. When both unenhanced and post-contrast images are acquired, 74170 represents the combined examination.
- 74178CT abdomen/pelvisWithout and with contrast
- 74178 includes both abdomen and pelvis with unenhanced and post-contrast imaging; 74170 is for the abdomen alone.
- 74183MRI abdomenWithout and with contrast
- 74183 is an MRI examination of the abdomen without and with contrast. Use 74170 when the selected modality is CT.
74170 billing questions
How does this differ from 74150 or 74160?
74150 describes an abdominal CT without contrast only, while 74160 describes one with contrast only. Use 74170 when the examination includes both unenhanced and post-contrast imaging.
Can 74150 and 74160 be reported separately for the same scan?
When the abdominal examination includes both phases, report 74170 rather than separately reporting the single-phase codes for that same study.
Which component modifier should the claim use?
Use modifier 26 for the physician's interpretation or TC for the technical service. A claim without either modifier represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting both phases?
The order and imaging report should establish that the abdomen was examined before and after contrast and support the need for both phases.
How does the multiple procedure reduction affect this code?
When the applicable diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction is triggered, CMS applies it to both the technical and professional components.
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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