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

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 74261 in California.

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

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 in California

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

29 of 29 payment localities

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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 74261

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

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

74261 compared with similar codes

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.

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