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CPT code 78481: Cardiac function imaging, single first-pass study2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports one radionuclide first-pass cardiac function study, using sequential images to evaluate ventricular motion and ejection fraction.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality639 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $187.14 for 78481 in the office.

$187.14Office (non-facility)
Not available in this settingHospital or facility
+15.3%vs the national office rate ($162.33)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 78481 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 78481 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 78481 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 78481 covers

A radiopharmaceutical bolus is followed as it moves through the heart, with rapid image acquisition during its first passage through the cardiac chambers. The resulting study supports quantitative assessment of cardiac function, including wall motion and ejection fraction. Nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, or cardiologists may perform and interpret the examination in an imaging department or hospital setting, with or without pharmacologic intervention.

Report 78481 for a single first-pass study, rather than a series of first-pass studies. Documentation should identify the study performed and include the image interpretation and quantitative findings. The service has professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and no component modifier represents the global service. When multiple cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are performed, CMS applies the multiple-procedure reduction 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 78481

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 78481 runs from $143.39 in Arkansas to $221.92 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $187.14. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

78481 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$187.14
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$186.61−$0.53
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$170.15−$16.99
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$165.36−$21.78
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$186.19−$0.95
  6. Alaska · Alaska$185.97−$1.17
  7. Alabama · Alabama$145.53−$41.61

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

Every other payment area

78481 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$143.39—
ArizonaArizona$158.10—
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$174.63—
Chico, CACalifornia$174.44—
El Centro, CACalifornia$174.45—
Fresno, CACalifornia$174.44—
Hanford, CACalifornia$174.44—
Madera, CACalifornia$174.44—

78481 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.

$143.39

$198.18

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

View every state and territory as a table
78481 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$185.971
AL$145.531
AR$143.391
AZ$158.101
CA$174.44–$221.9229
CO$170.581
CT$173.221
DC$187.141
DE$160.781
FL$157.51–$170.153
GA$148.76–$164.822
GU$179.241
HI$179.241
IA$150.391
ID$151.161
IL$152.08–$167.314
IN$152.081
KS$149.161
KY$147.911
LA$147.47–$154.972
MA$169.32–$188.412
MD$164.06–$187.143
ME$151.41–$160.552
MI$151.36–$158.972
MN$164.881
MO$144.54–$156.163
MS$144.021
MT$162.331
NC$153.111
ND$161.341
NE$151.391
NH$167.391
NJ$175.60–$185.042
NM$151.991
NV$162.181
NY$155.40–$190.125
OH$151.151
OK$148.201
OR$161.32–$176.692
PA$151.69–$168.502
PR$163.721
RI$167.001
SC$152.301
SD$161.221
TN$149.851
TX$150.64–$169.668
UT$154.441
VA$159.65–$187.142
VI$163.721
VT$160.221
WA$169.16–$192.822
WI$155.771
WV$146.201
WY$161.891

See 78481 in every payment locality

How the 78481 rate is calculated

Each of 78481’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 · 78481

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.96

0.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.85

3.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.05

0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.8600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$162.33

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

9,404

Code
78481
Physician work
0.96
Practice expense
3.85
Malpractice
0.05

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 78481 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.96× 1.0541.0118
Practice expense3.85× 1.1784.5353
Malpractice0.05× 1.1130.0557
Total RVUs5.6028
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$187.14

Office: (0.96 × 1.054 + 3.85 × 1.178 + 0.05 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $187.14

Open 78481 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 78481

The CMS indicators that decide how 78481 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 78481

Cardiac function imaging, single first-pass study

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

78481 without 26 · national office

$162.33

Cardiac function imaging, single first-pass study

78481-26 · Professional component

$44.42

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

Codes related to 78481

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

Codes related to 78481
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
78483First-pass cardiac imaging, multiple studiesFirst-pass cardiac function imaging for multiple studies rather than one.$252.41
Used instead
78472Cardiac blood-pool imaging, single planar equilibrium studySingle-study gated blood-pool imaging uses an equilibrium acquisition approach.$240.19
78473Gated heart imaging, multiple studiesMultiple-study gated blood-pool imaging differs from first-pass acquisition.$308.22
78494Cardiac blood-pool imaging, gated SPECTSPECT heart imaging uses tomographic acquisition rather than first-pass imaging.$243.67

How 78481 has changed in Washington, DC area

78481 · Office / nonfacility

$187.14

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $5.24 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $181.90 to $187.14 (2.9%).

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

    $181.90changed to$187.14

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.98 changed to 0.96
    • Practice expense RVU 3.79 changed to 3.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05
    • 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

    $192.35changed to$181.90

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.91 changed to 3.79
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $189.21changed to$192.35

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $200.08changed to$189.21

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.93 changed to 3.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07
    • 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

    $210.85changed to$200.08

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.01 changed to 3.93
    • 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

    $218.63changed to$210.85

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 4.15 changed to 4.01

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $215.73changed to$218.63

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.97 changed to 4.15
    • 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

    $214.23changed to$215.73

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.01 changed to 3.97
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08
    • 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

    $216.58changed to$214.23

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.08 changed to 4.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $214.74changed to$216.58

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.05 changed to 4.08
    • 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

    $213.50changed to$214.74

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.03 changed to 4.05
    • 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

    $213.81changed to$213.50

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.06

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $212.75changed to$213.81

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $211.25changed to$212.75

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.01 changed to 4.03
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05
    • 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

    $219.93changed to$211.25

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.50 changed to 4.01
    • 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: $219.93

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$187.14Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$187.14Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$187.14Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$187.14Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$181.90Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$181.90Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$181.90Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$181.90Not available in this settingRVU25A
2024-10-01$192.35Not available in this settingRVU24D
2024-07-01$192.35Not available in this settingRVU24C
2024-04-01$192.35Not available in this settingRVU24B
2024-03-09$192.35Not available in this settingRVU24AR
2024-01-01$189.21Not available in this settingRVU24A
2023-10-01$200.08Not available in this settingRVU23D
2023-07-01$200.08Not available in this settingRVU23C
2023-04-01$200.08Not available in this settingRVU23B
2023-01-01$200.08Not available in this settingRVU23A
2022-10-01$210.85Not available in this settingRVU22D
2022-07-01$210.85Not available in this settingRVU22C
2022-04-01$210.85Not available in this settingRVU22B
2022-01-01$210.85Not available in this settingRVU22A
2021-10-01$218.63Not available in this settingRVU21D
2021-07-01$218.63Not available in this settingRVU21C
2021-04-01$218.63Not available in this settingRVU21B
2021-01-01$218.63Not available in this settingRVU21A
2020-10-01$215.73Not available in this settingRVU20D
2020-07-01$215.73Not available in this settingRVU20C
2020-04-01$215.73Not available in this settingRVU20B
2020-01-01$215.73Not available in this settingRVU20A
2019-10-01$214.23Not available in this settingRVU19D
2019-07-01$214.23Not available in this settingRVU19C
2019-04-01$214.23Not available in this settingRVU19B
2019-01-01$214.23Not available in this settingRVU19A
2018-10-01$216.58Not available in this settingRVU18D
2018-07-01$216.58Not available in this settingRVU18C
2018-04-01$216.58Not available in this settingRVU18B
2018-01-01$216.58Not available in this settingRVU18AR1
2017-10-01$214.74Not available in this settingRVU17D
2017-07-01$214.74Not available in this settingRVU17C
2017-04-01$214.74Not available in this settingRVU17B
2017-01-01$214.74Not available in this settingRVU17A
2016-10-01$213.50Not available in this settingRVU16D
2016-07-01$213.50Not available in this settingRVU16C
2016-04-01$213.50Not available in this settingRVU16B
2016-01-01$213.50Not available in this settingRVU16A
2015-10-01$213.81Not available in this settingRVU15D
2015-07-01$213.81Not available in this settingRVU15C
2015-04-01$212.75Not available in this settingRVU15B
2015-01-01$212.75Not available in this settingRVU15A
2014-10-01$211.25Not available in this settingRVU14D
2014-07-01$211.25Not available in this settingRVU14C
2014-04-01$211.25Not available in this settingRVU14B
2014-01-01$211.25Not available in this settingRVU14A
2013-10-01$219.93Not available in this settingRVU13D
2013-07-01$219.93Not available in this settingRVU13C
2013-04-01$219.93Not available in this settingRVU13B
2013-01-01$219.93Not available in this settingRVU13AR

Price 78481 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

78481 billing questions

When is 78481 used instead of 78483?

Use 78481 for a single first-pass cardiac function study. Use 78483 when multiple first-pass studies are performed.

Can the interpretation and imaging be billed separately?

Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What happens when other cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are performed?

CMS applies its cardiovascular diagnostic multiple-procedure reduction to the technical component. The reduction does not apply to the professional component.

How does 78481 differ from a gated blood-pool study?

78481 follows the tracer during its first passage through the heart. Gated blood-pool imaging, such as 78472, uses a different acquisition approach.

What should the report document?

Document that a single first-pass study was performed, the interpretation, and quantitative findings such as wall motion and ejection fraction.

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 78481PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,404 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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