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CPT code 74261: CT colonography, diagnostic, without contrast2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Diagnostic CT colonography without contrast evaluates the colon when a diagnostic assessment is needed, including after an incomplete conventional colonoscopy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities6.6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $409.16 for 74261 nationally in the office.

Medicare rate · 74261

CT colonography, diagnostic, without contrast

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
2.34
Total RVUs
12.25
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$409.16

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 74261 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 74261 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 74261 covers

CT colonography uses CT images and image processing to assess the colon without contrast. A radiologist interprets the study, which may be used to evaluate suspected colorectal disease or examine the colon after conventional colonoscopy could not be completed. The exam commonly involves bowel preparation and colonic distention to make the bowel visible on the images; it does not remove polyps or provide tissue samples.

Report 74261 for a diagnostic study performed without contrast; use 74262 when contrast is used. The record should support the diagnostic purpose, contrast status, and completed imaging and interpretation. For the complete service, bill without a component modifier; use modifier 26 for interpretation alone or TC for the technical service alone. CMS separately prices these modifiers. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures trigger the multiple-procedure reduction, it applies to both the professional and technical components.

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 74261 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

74261 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

74261 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
74261 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 74261 rate is calculated

Each of 74261’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 · 74261

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.34

2.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.74

9.74 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.17

0.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

12.2500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$409.16

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 74261

The CMS indicators that decide how 74261 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 74261

CT colonography, diagnostic, without contrast

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures4Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

74261 without 26 · national office

$409.16

CT colonography, diagnostic, without contrast

74261-26 · Professional component

$110.89

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

74261 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 74261

    CT colonography, diagnostic, without contrast2.34 wRVU

    $409.16

  • 74262

    CT colonography, diagnostic with contrast2.44 wRVU

    $459.60+$50.44

  • 74263

    CT colonography, screening examination2.22 wRVU

    $835.02+$425.86

  • 45378

    Colonoscopy, diagnostic, no tissue removal3.18 wRVU

    $378.10−$31.06

  • 74270

    Colon imaging, single-contrast study1.01 wRVU

    $148.63−$260.53

How to choose

74262CT colonographyDiagnostic with contrast
Both are diagnostic CT colonography. Choose 74261 for an exam without contrast and 74262 when contrast is used.
74263CT colonographyScreening examination
74263 represents screening CT colonography; 74261 represents diagnostic evaluation.
45378ColonoscopyDiagnostic, no tissue removal
45378 is conventional diagnostic colonoscopy, which directly examines the bowel and can support endoscopic intervention; 74261 is a CT-based examination.
74270Colon imagingSingle-contrast study
74270 is a single-contrast fluoroscopic colon study. 74261 assesses the colon with CT imaging rather than fluoroscopy.

Codes related to 74261

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 74261
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
74262CT colonography, diagnostic with contrastDiagnostic CT colonography when contrast is used.No office rate
74263CT colonography, screening examinationCT colonography for screening rather than diagnostic evaluation.No office rate
Used instead
45378Colonoscopy, diagnostic, no tissue removalConventional diagnostic colonoscopy; permits direct examination of the bowel.$335.05–$497.55
74270Colon imaging, single-contrast studySingle-contrast fluoroscopic colon examination using a different imaging method.$131.63–$201.01
74280Colon X-ray, double-contrast studyDouble-contrast fluoroscopic colon examination using a different imaging method.$186.38–$288.52

74261 billing questions

How does 74261 differ from 74262?

74261 is for diagnostic CT colonography without contrast. Use 74262 when contrast is used.

When is 74263 more appropriate?

74263 is the screening CT colonography code. Use 74261 when the study is diagnostic rather than a screening examination.

Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?

Yes. Report modifier 26 for the interpretation or TC for the technical service; bill without a component modifier for the complete service.

Does image processing have a separate code here?

Image processing is part of the CT colonography service represented by 74261; it is not a separate service under this code.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect 74261?

When the Medicare diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction is triggered, it applies to both the professional and technical components.

Can CT colonography remove a polyp found on the study?

No. It provides images for assessment; removal or biopsy requires a separate procedure when clinically 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

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