CPT code 77074: Skeletal survey, limited examination2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
A limited series of skeletal radiographs evaluates selected bones, commonly when a clinician is assessing known or suspected metastatic bone disease.
Medicare pays $67.36–$74.76 for 77074 in the office in Massachusetts, from Rest of Massachusetts to Metropolitan Boston, MA. 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 77074 covers
This service uses plain X-rays of selected skeletal regions to assess a focused bone question, such as known or suspected metastatic involvement. A radiologic technologist obtains the images, and a radiologist typically interprets them. It may be performed in a hospital or outpatient imaging department when the clinical request calls for a limited survey rather than a comprehensive review of the skeleton.
Choose this code when the ordered and performed examination is limited in scope; a complete skeletal survey is a different service. The imaging order and report should identify the clinical reason and the regions examined, with the interpretation supporting the findings. The professional component is the radiologist’s interpretation and is reported with modifier 26; the technical component covers equipment and staff and is reported with modifier TC. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
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 77074 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $74.76 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $67.36 | Unavailable |
How the 77074 rate is calculated
Each of 77074’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 · 77074
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.43
0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.47
1.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.04
0.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.9400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$64.80
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 77074
The CMS indicators that decide how 77074 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 77074
Skeletal survey, limited examination
| 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
77074 without 26 · national office
$64.80
Skeletal survey, limited examination
77074-26 · Professional component
$20.71
Pays only the interpretation and report.
77074 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 77075Skeletal surveyComplete examination
- 77074 describes a limited survey of selected skeletal regions; 77075 is used for a complete skeletal survey.
- 77076Skeletal surveyInfant
- 77076 is the skeletal survey code for an infant examination. Use 77074 for a limited survey not designated for infants.
- 78306Bone imagingWhole body
- 78306 is whole-body bone scintigraphy using a radiotracer. 77074 is a limited survey using skeletal radiographs.
77074 billing questions
When should 77074 be used instead of 77075?
Use 77074 for a limited skeletal survey of selected regions. Use 77075 when the examination is a complete skeletal survey.
How should the professional and technical services be billed?
Report modifier 26 for the interpretation and modifier TC for the equipment and staff portion. Without a modifier, the code represents the global service.
Should each radiographic view be reported as a separate unit?
The code represents the limited survey, not individual images. The documentation should show the regions examined and support the scope of the survey.
What documentation supports reporting the limited survey?
Keep the order and imaging report showing the clinical reason, the skeletal regions examined, and the radiologist’s interpretation.
Is 77074 the appropriate code for an infant skeletal survey?
No. The infant skeletal survey is represented by 77076; 77074 is for a limited survey.
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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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