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CPT code 78473: Gated heart imaging, multiple studies2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports multiple gated equilibrium cardiac blood-pool imaging studies, commonly rest and stress acquisitions, to assess ventricular function and wall motion.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality240 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $308.22 for 78473 in the office.

$308.22Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
+15.5%vs the national office rate ($266.87)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 78473 nationwide

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

We’ll open 78473 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 78473 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 78473 covers

This study uses a radiotracer and ECG-gated gamma-camera imaging to track blood within the heart chambers over the cardiac cycle. Multiple acquisitions, often at rest and with stress, allow assessment of ventricular function, ejection fraction, and wall motion. Nuclear medicine technologists typically acquire the images; a qualified physician interprets them in hospital or outpatient imaging settings. The test may be used to evaluate ventricular performance, including in patients with heart failure or when cardiac function is being monitored during treatment.

Report 78473 when the service includes multiple gated equilibrium studies, rather than a single study. Documentation should identify the acquisitions performed and support the interpretation of cardiac function and wall motion. The service has professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment-and-staff service, and no modifier represents the global service. The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component.

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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 78473

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 78473 runs from $234.71 in Arkansas to $365.64 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $308.22. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

78473 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$308.22
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$307.02−$1.20
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$281.32−$26.90
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$273.04−$35.18
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$306.98−$1.24
  6. Alaska · Alaska$303.11−$5.11
  7. Alabama · Alabama$238.35−$69.87

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

78473 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$234.71—
ArizonaArizona$259.67—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$287.03—
Chico, CACalifornia$286.66—
El Centro, CACalifornia$286.68—
Fresno, CACalifornia$286.66—
Hanford, CACalifornia$286.66—
Madera, CACalifornia$286.66—

78473 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.

$234.71

$326.15

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
78473 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$303.111
AL$238.351
AR$234.711
AZ$259.671
CA$286.66–$365.6429
CO$280.431
CT$285.191
DC$308.221
DE$264.161
FL$259.24–$281.323
GA$244.31–$271.202
GU$294.841
HI$294.841
IA$246.351
ID$247.701
IL$250.20–$275.864
IN$249.261
KS$244.371
KY$242.651
LA$241.94–$254.662
MA$278.31–$310.222
MD$269.63–$308.223
ME$248.25–$263.582
MI$248.60–$261.852
MN$270.531
MO$237.05–$256.543
MS$235.971
MT$266.871
NC$251.111
ND$264.691
NE$248.001
NH$275.251
NJ$288.96–$304.602
NM$249.731
NV$266.481
NY$255.01–$313.805
OH$248.161
OK$243.001
OR$264.92–$290.612
PA$249.01–$277.272
PR$269.191
RI$274.491
SC$249.951
SD$264.431
TN$245.571
TX$247.22–$279.058
UT$253.571
VA$262.13–$308.222
VI$269.191
VT$262.901
WA$278.03–$317.492
WI$255.281
WV$240.231
WY$265.921

See 78473 in every payment locality

How the 78473 rate is calculated

Each of 78473’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 · 78473

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.43

1.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.45

6.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.11

0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

7.9900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$266.87

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,401

Code
78473
Physician work
1.43
Practice expense
6.45
Malpractice
0.11

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 78473 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.43× 1.0541.5072
Practice expense6.45× 1.1787.5981
Malpractice0.11× 1.1130.1224
Total RVUs9.2277
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$308.22

Office: (1.43 × 1.054 + 6.45 × 1.178 + 0.11 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $308.22

Open 78473 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 78473

The CMS indicators that decide how 78473 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78473

Gated heart imaging, multiple studies

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures6Diagnostic cardiovascular reduction applies to the technical component.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

78473 without 26 · national office

$266.87

Gated heart imaging, multiple studies

78473-26 · Professional component

$67.80

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 78473

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

Codes related to 78473
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
78472Cardiac blood-pool imaging, single planar equilibrium studySingle-study gated equilibrium cardiac blood-pool imaging.$240.19
Used instead
78483First-pass cardiac imaging, multiple studiesMultiple first-pass cardiac blood-pool studies use a different imaging technique.$252.41
78481Cardiac function imaging, single first-pass studySingle first-pass cardiac blood-pool study, rather than multiple equilibrium acquisitions.$187.14
78494Cardiac blood-pool imaging, gated SPECTGated equilibrium cardiac blood-pool imaging using SPECT acquisition.$243.67

How 78473 has changed in Washington, DC area

78473 · Office / nonfacility

$308.22

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $11.27 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $296.95 to $308.22 (3.8%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $296.95changed to$308.22

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.47 changed to 1.43
    • Practice expense RVU 6.31 changed to 6.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.11
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $312.33changed to$296.95

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 6.47 changed to 6.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $307.23changed to$312.33

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $324.58changed to$307.23

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 6.53 changed to 6.47
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.10
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $342.09changed to$324.58

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 6.65 changed to 6.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $357.00changed to$342.09

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 6.93 changed to 6.65

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $355.06changed to$357.00

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 6.69 changed to 6.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $353.02changed to$355.06

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.76 changed to 6.69
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $358.73changed to$353.02

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.89 changed to 6.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $356.08changed to$358.73

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.85 changed to 6.89
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $355.01changed to$356.08

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 6.84 changed to 6.85
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $354.50changed to$355.01

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 6.82 changed to 6.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.10

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $352.74changed to$354.50

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $348.53changed to$352.74

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 6.73 changed to 6.82
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $354.72changed to$348.53

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.34 changed to 6.73
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $354.72

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$308.22Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$308.22Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$308.22Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$308.22Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$296.95Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$296.95Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$296.95Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$296.95Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$312.33Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$312.33Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$312.33Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$312.33Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$307.23Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$324.58Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$324.58Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$324.58Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$324.58Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$342.09Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$342.09Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$342.09Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$342.09Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$357.00Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$357.00Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$357.00Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$357.00Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$355.06Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$355.06Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$355.06Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$355.06Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$353.02Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$353.02Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$353.02Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$353.02Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$358.73Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$358.73Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$358.73Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$358.73Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$356.08Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$356.08Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$356.08Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$356.08Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$355.01Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$355.01Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$355.01Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$355.01Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$354.50Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$354.50Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$352.74Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$352.74Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$348.53Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$348.53Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$348.53Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$348.53Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$354.72Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$354.72Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$354.72Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$354.72Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 78473 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

78473 billing questions

How does 78473 differ from 78472?

78473 represents multiple gated equilibrium studies, commonly rest and stress acquisitions. Use 78472 for a single study.

How should the professional and technical services be reported?

Use modifier 26 for the physician’s interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Report without a modifier when billing the global service.

Does the multiple procedure reduction affect the entire service?

The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component of 78473.

What documentation supports reporting 78473 instead of 78472?

Record the multiple gated equilibrium acquisitions performed and the findings used to assess ventricular function or wall motion.

Can 78483 be used instead for multiple cardiac studies?

78483 describes multiple first-pass cardiac blood-pool studies. Choose between it and 78473 based on the imaging technique performed, not simply the number of acquisitions.

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
RVUs for 78473PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,401 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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