CPT code 74181: Abdominal MRI, without contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $193.73 for 74181 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $172.06–$260.88.

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

What 74181 covers

This service covers magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen using a protocol without contrast material. Radiologists interpret the images; imaging departments, hospitals, and independent diagnostic centers may furnish the technical service. Common clinical questions include assessment of abdominal organs such as the liver, pancreas, kidneys, or adrenal glands when noncontrast imaging is the requested protocol.

Select this code when the documented examination is limited to the abdomen and performed without contrast. The order and radiology report should support the body region and contrast protocol. Report the global service when one entity furnishes both the interpretation and imaging; use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation or TC for the technical service when those portions are billed separately. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both professional and technical components when it applies to the reported services.

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 74181 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

74181 rates by state

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

How the 74181 rate is calculated

Each of 74181’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 74181

The CMS indicators that decide how 74181 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

74181 compared with similar codes

How to choose

74182Abdominal MRIWith contrast only

Use 74182 for abdominal MRI performed with contrast; 74181 is for the noncontrast examination.

74183MRI abdomenWithout and with contrast

Use 74183 when the abdominal MRI includes images before and after contrast. 74181 represents the noncontrast-only protocol.

74150CT abdomenWithout contrast

74150 is abdominal CT without contrast. Choose between it and 74181 based on the modality actually performed, not simply the absence of contrast.

74160Abdominal CTWith contrast

74160 describes abdominal CT with contrast, while 74181 describes abdominal MRI without contrast.

Codes related to 74181

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