CPT code 78700: Kidney imaging, morphology only2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $153.31 for 78700 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $133.08–$214.38.

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

What 78700 covers

This nuclear medicine study produces images of the kidneys’ location, size, contour, and cortical pattern after administration of a radiopharmaceutical. It may be used when evaluation centers on renal anatomy or suspected cortical abnormalities, such as scarring. A nuclear medicine technologist typically acquires the images in an imaging department, and a physician interprets the study.

Choose 78700 when the performed study evaluates renal morphology, rather than renal blood flow or function. The record should support the clinical reason for imaging, the study performed, and the physician’s interpretation. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: the interpreting physician may report modifier 26, the equipment-and-staff portion may be reported with modifier TC, and billing without either modifier 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 78700 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

78700 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 78700 rate is calculated

Each of 78700’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 78700

The CMS indicators that decide how 78700 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

78700 compared with similar codes

How to choose

78701Kidney imagingWith vascular flow

Choose 78700 for morphology-focused images; 78701 describes renal imaging that includes assessment of blood flow.

78707Renal imagingSingle study, no drug

78707 evaluates renal flow and function without pharmacologic intervention, while 78700 focuses on morphology.

78708Renal imagingPharmacologic intervention

78708 evaluates renal flow and function with pharmacologic intervention; 78700 is selected for a morphology-focused study.

78725Kidney function studyQuantitative clearance

78725 is a renal function study. Use 78700 when the performed nuclear imaging evaluates renal morphology instead.

Codes related to 78700

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