CPT code 74250: Small-bowel X-ray, single contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
A radiologist interprets a single-contrast X-ray examination of the small intestine, using serial images to assess its structure and passage of contrast.
Medicare pays $110.01–$123.27 for 74250 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont, TX to Austin, TX. 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 74250 covers
This service is a radiographic examination of the small intestine using one contrast agent, commonly administered by mouth, with serial images used to assess the bowel’s appearance and the passage of contrast. A radiologist typically interprets the study after images are acquired in a hospital outpatient department or imaging center. It may be ordered to investigate suspected small-bowel narrowing, obstruction, or other structural abnormalities.
Select this code when the documented examination is a single-contrast study of the small intestine; the report should identify the anatomy examined and the imaging performed. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the physician’s interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service. The radiology report and imaging record should support the service and the selected contrast technique.
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 74250 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$110.01 to $123.27
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $123.27 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $110.01 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $117.20 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $117.83 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $116.96 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $117.48 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $118.57 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $113.46 | Unavailable |
How the 74250 rate is calculated
Each of 74250’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 · 74250
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.79
0.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.69
2.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.06
0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.5400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$118.24
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 74250
The CMS indicators that decide how 74250 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 74250
Small-bowel X-ray, single contrast
| 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
74250 without 26 · national office
$118.24
Small-bowel X-ray, single contrast
74250-26 · Professional component
$37.41
Pays only the interpretation and report.
74250 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 74248Small bowel follow-throughAdd-on to upper GI
- This code represents a single-contrast small-intestine examination. Choose 74248 when the documented service is a small-intestine follow-through study.
- 74251Small bowel X-rayDouble contrast
- 74251 is for a double-contrast small-intestine examination; this code is for the single-contrast technique.
- 74240Upper GI seriesSingle contrast
- 74240 examines the upper gastrointestinal tract with single contrast. This code is for imaging the small intestine.
74250 billing questions
How does this differ from 74248?
74248 identifies a small-intestine follow-through study. Use 74250 when the documented examination is the single-contrast small-intestine study rather than the follow-through service.
How does this differ from 74251?
74251 is the corresponding small-intestine examination using a double-contrast technique. This code is for the single-contrast technique.
Which modifier identifies the radiologist’s interpretation?
Report modifier 26 for the professional component, which represents the physician’s interpretation. Modifier TC identifies the technical component.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The imaging record and interpretation should support examination of the small intestine, use of a single-contrast technique, and the study 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
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