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

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 78351 in Texas.

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

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 in Texas

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

8 of 8 payment localities

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.

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.

78351 compared with similar codes

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.

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