CPT code 78708: Renal imaging, pharmacologic intervention2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New York
A renal nuclear medicine study combining perfusion and function imaging with a pharmacologic challenge to assess drainage or functional response.
Medicare pays $164.79–$202.45 for 78708 in the office in New York, from Rest of New York to NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 78708 covers
A renal renogram uses a radiotracer and serial imaging to assess blood flow, relative renal function, and tracer washout after a pharmacologic challenge. Common situations include evaluating suspected urinary obstruction with delayed drainage or assessing renal response to an ACE inhibitor, such as captopril. A nuclear medicine physician or radiologist interprets images acquired in a hospital or outpatient nuclear medicine department; technologists perform the imaging, and the drug challenge is part of the study.
Select this code when the renal flow-and-function imaging includes a pharmacologic intervention. Document the clinical indication, intervention, imaging performed, and interpretation. Use 78707 for the corresponding study without a drug intervention; 78709 describes studies involving multiple pharmacologic interventions. CMS allows the professional component with modifier 26, the technical component with modifier TC, or the global service without either modifier.
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 78708 pays more and less in New York
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
5 payment localities
$164.79 to $202.45
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, NY | $197.96 | Unavailable |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $202.45 | Unavailable |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $187.17 | Unavailable |
| Queens, NY | $200.02 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New York | $164.79 | Unavailable |
How the 78708 rate is calculated
Each of 78708’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 · 78708
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.18
1.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.87
3.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.11
0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.1600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$172.35
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78708
The CMS indicators that decide how 78708 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78708
Renal imaging, pharmacologic intervention
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
78708 without 26 · national office
$172.35
Renal imaging, pharmacologic intervention
78708-26 · Professional component
$54.11
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78708 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 78707Renal imagingSingle study, no drug
- Choose 78708 when the renal flow-and-function imaging includes a pharmacologic intervention. Choose 78707 for the corresponding study without one.
- 78709Renal imagingMultiple flow and function studies
- 78709 describes the related study involving multiple pharmacologic interventions; 78708 is for a study with a pharmacologic intervention.
- 78725Kidney function studyQuantitative clearance
- 78725 is a renal function study without imaging. Use 78708 when the service includes renal imaging with flow and function assessment.
- 78701Kidney imagingWith vascular flow
- 78701 covers renal imaging with vascular flow. 78708 is the flow-and-function study performed with a pharmacologic intervention.
78708 billing questions
How does 78708 differ from 78707?
78708 describes renal flow-and-function imaging performed with a pharmacologic intervention. Use 78707 when the study is performed without one.
When is 78709 more appropriate?
78709 is the related code for a renal flow-and-function study involving multiple pharmacologic interventions. 78708 describes the study with a pharmacologic intervention.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Report modifier 26 for the interpretation and report modifier TC for the equipment and staff portion. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 78708?
Document the reason for the study, the pharmacologic intervention used, the imaging performed, and the interpreting clinician’s findings.
Is this the same as a non-imaging renal function study?
No. 78708 describes renal flow-and-function imaging with a pharmacologic intervention; 78725 is a renal function study without imaging.
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
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