CPT code 74280: Colon X-ray, double-contrast study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $211.43 for 74280 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $186.38–$288.52.

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

What 74280 covers

This examination uses fluoroscopy and radiographs to evaluate the colon after contrast is introduced through the rectum. Barium outlines the bowel, and air helps show the inner surface. A radiologist typically performs and interprets the study in a hospital radiology department or imaging center. It may be selected when a structural assessment of the colon is needed and colonoscopy is incomplete or not suitable. Scout or delayed images, when obtained as part of the examination, are included in the study.

Report 74280 for the double-contrast technique, rather than the single-contrast colon examination represented by 74270. The imaging report should support the indication, technique used, and findings. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the physician’s interpretation, modifier TC for the equipment and staff, or neither modifier when billing the global service. The professional and technical components are separately priced when billed with their respective modifiers.

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 74280 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

74280 rates by state

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

How the 74280 rate is calculated

Each of 74280’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 74280

The CMS indicators that decide how 74280 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

74280 compared with similar codes

How to choose

74270Colon imagingSingle-contrast study

Choose 74280 for the double-contrast barium-and-air technique. Code 74270 is for a single-contrast colon examination.

74261CT colonographyDiagnostic, without contrast

74261 is diagnostic CT colonography without contrast. Code 74280 is a fluoroscopic examination using barium and air.

74263CT colonographyScreening examination

74263 is for screening CT colonography. Code 74280 describes a diagnostic fluoroscopic colon study, not CT screening.

Codes related to 74280

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