FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 78351: Bone mineral study, dual-photon method2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Dual-photon absorptiometry measures bone mineral content and has been used to assess osteoporosis and fracture risk.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare rate · 78351

Bone mineral study, dual-photon method

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.29
Total RVUs
0.37
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 78351 →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 78351 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 78351 covers

This code identifies a bone mineral examination performed with dual-photon absorptiometry, a historical radionuclide-based method that estimates bone mineral content. The method has been used in osteoporosis evaluation and fracture-risk assessment. Radiology or nuclear medicine services typically perform and report the examination. Its purpose differs from skeletal scintigraphy: scintigraphy depicts bone activity, whereas this examination measures bone mineral content. The dual-photon method also distinguishes this service from single-photon absorptiometry and X-ray-based DXA.

Medicare lists this service as not covered under status N. For code selection, identify the measurement method: 78351 is the dual-photon method, while 78350 represents single-photon absorptiometry. DXA uses X-rays and is reported with codes differentiated by skeletal site. These bone mineral assessments differ from skeletal scintigraphy codes for limited-area, multiple-area, or whole-body imaging.

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 78351 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

78351 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

78351 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
78351 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 78351 rate is calculated

Each of 78351’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 · 78351

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.29

0.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.06

0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.3700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$12.36

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 78351

78351 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

Place of service · 78351

Which rate does Medicare pay?

The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

—

78351 isn’t priced in this setting.

78351 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 78351

    Bone mineral study, dual-photon method0.29 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 78350

    Bone density study, single photon0.21 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 77080

    DXA bone density scan, axial skeleton, spine or hip0.2 wRVU

    $39.41

  • 78300

    Bone scan, limited area0.6 wRVU

    $199.40

How to choose

78350Bone density studySingle photon
Both codes describe bone mineral measurement, but 78351 is the dual-photon method and 78350 is the single-photon method.
77080DXA bone density scanAxial skeleton, spine or hip
77080 describes DXA measurement of the axial skeleton using X-rays; 78351 identifies dual-photon absorptiometry.
78300Bone scanLimited area
78300 describes limited-area skeletal imaging, not bone mineral measurement.

Codes related to 78351

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

Codes related to 78351
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
78350Bone density study, single photonSibling bone mineral study code for the single-photon method.No office rate
Used instead
77080DXA bone density scan, axial skeleton, spine or hipDXA bone density study of the axial skeleton using a different measurement method.$34.57–$54.01
77081Bone density, appendicular skeletonDXA bone density study of the appendicular skeleton using a different measurement method.$27.97–$42.93

78351 billing questions

What examination does this code represent?

It represents bone mineral measurement by dual-photon absorptiometry, a method used to assess bone mineral content.

How does it differ from 78350?

78351 identifies the dual-photon method; 78350 identifies the single-photon method.

Is this the same as a nuclear medicine bone scan?

No. This examination measures bone mineral content, while skeletal scintigraphy depicts bone activity.

How does this differ from DXA?

Dual-photon absorptiometry uses a different measurement method from DXA, which uses X-rays. DXA codes distinguish the skeletal site examined.

Does Medicare cover this service?

No. Medicare lists this code as not covered under status N.

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

Did this answer your question about what 78351 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 78351 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist