Billing code 70015: CisternographyMedicare rate & RVUs
Radiologists report contrast cisternography for imaging cerebrospinal fluid pathways, including evaluation of a suspected leak after intrathecal contrast administration.
Medicare pays $160.32 for 70015 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $142.26–$215.90.
Medicare rate · 70015
Cisternography
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 1.16
- Total RVUs
- 4.80
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$160.32
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 70015 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 10 sections
What 70015 covers
This service covers radiological supervision and interpretation of contrast cisternography, an imaging study that follows intrathecal contrast through cerebrospinal fluid spaces. A radiologist interprets the images to assess CSF pathways, including when a leak is suspected. The study is typically performed in a hospital or imaging department after contrast has been introduced into the spinal fluid; the clinician administering it may be different from the interpreting radiologist.
Select this code for the contrast cisternography study, not simply for a spinal puncture or a radionuclide CSF-flow study. The report should identify the study and document the radiologist’s interpretation and findings. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for the equipment and staff, or neither modifier when billing the global service. The technical service includes the imaging resources and personnel; the professional service is the interpretation.
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 70015 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$142.26 to $215.90
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $144.30 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $186.23 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $156.25 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $142.26 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $162.88 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $166.99 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $171.43 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $170.26 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $149.43 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $158.98 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $164.65 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $167.81 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $170.82 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $159.82 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $183.88 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $158.82 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $158.00 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $153.52 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $171.17 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $164.03 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $158.66 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $159.34 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $175.49 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $160.81 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $149.40 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $150.27 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $148.61 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $147.58 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $146.90 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $182.78 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $183.63 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $184.69 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $153.01 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $166.41 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $154.62 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $169.29 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $161.89 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $143.10 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $160.32 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $199.26 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $149.51 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $160.00 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $164.87 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $150.99 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $153.67 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $151.39 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $158.74 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $181.97 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $187.57 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $150.00 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $147.01 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $182.04 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $173.46 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $173.93 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $161.59 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $185.63 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $156.44 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $148.00 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $151.48 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $146.54 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $149.80 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $161.92 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $166.70 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $150.32 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $143.85 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $173.07 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $153.59 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $159.06 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $150.43 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $154.00 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $166.49 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $164.70 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $172.04 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $179.86 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $179.19 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $183.57 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $211.31 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $211.22 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $215.90 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $215.53 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $176.27 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $185.46 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $179.91 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $187.36 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $188.76 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $150.89 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $158.55 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $158.27 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $165.87 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $148.27 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $152.92 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $199.13 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $157.82 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $161.59 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $157.52 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $171.16 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $145.90 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $153.48 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $159.63 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $171.16 | Unavailable |
70015 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$142.26
$193.53
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $186.23 | 1 |
| AL | $144.30 | 1 |
| AR | $142.26 | 1 |
| AZ | $156.25 | 1 |
| CA | $171.16–$215.90 | 29 |
| CO | $167.81 | 1 |
| CT | $170.82 | 1 |
| DC | $183.88 | 1 |
| DE | $158.82 | 1 |
| FL | $156.44–$169.29 | 3 |
| GA | $148.00–$162.88 | 2 |
| GU | $175.49 | 1 |
| HI | $175.49 | 1 |
| IA | $148.61 | 1 |
| ID | $149.40 | 1 |
| IL | $151.48–$165.87 | 4 |
| IN | $150.27 | 1 |
| KS | $147.58 | 1 |
| KY | $146.90 | 1 |
| LA | $146.54–$153.67 | 2 |
| MA | $166.70–$184.69 | 2 |
| MD | $161.92–$183.88 | 3 |
| ME | $149.80–$158.27 | 2 |
| MI | $150.32–$158.00 | 2 |
| MN | $161.89 | 1 |
| MO | $143.85–$154.62 | 3 |
| MS | $143.10 | 1 |
| MT | $160.32 | 1 |
| NC | $151.39 | 1 |
| ND | $158.74 | 1 |
| NE | $149.51 | 1 |
| NH | $164.87 | 1 |
| NJ | $173.07–$181.97 | 2 |
| NM | $150.99 | 1 |
| NV | $160.00 | 1 |
| NY | $153.59–$187.57 | 5 |
| OH | $150.00 | 1 |
| OK | $147.01 | 1 |
| OR | $159.06–$173.46 | 2 |
| PA | $150.43–$166.41 | 2 |
| PR | $161.59 | 1 |
| RI | $164.70 | 1 |
| SC | $150.89 | 1 |
| SD | $158.55 | 1 |
| TN | $148.27 | 1 |
| TX | $149.43–$166.99 | 8 |
| UT | $152.92 | 1 |
| VA | $157.52–$183.88 | 2 |
| VI | $161.59 | 1 |
| VT | $157.82 | 1 |
| WA | $166.49–$188.76 | 2 |
| WI | $153.48 | 1 |
| WV | $145.90 | 1 |
| WY | $159.63 | 1 |
How the 70015 rate is calculated
Each of 70015’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 · 70015
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.16Practice expense 3.56Malpractice 0.08
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70015
The CMS indicators that decide how 70015 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70015
Cisternography
| 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
70015 without 26 · national office
$160.32
Cisternography
70015-26 · Professional component
$54.78
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70015 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
70015 vs 78630 vs 62270 vs 62328: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 78630CSF scan
- Use 70015 for contrast cisternography; use 78630 when the study uses a radiopharmaceutical.
- 62270Lumbar puncture
- 62270 represents a diagnostic spinal puncture without imaging guidance, not the radiologist’s cisternography interpretation.
- 62328Lumbar puncture
- 62328 represents a diagnostic lumbar puncture performed with imaging guidance; 70015 represents the contrast cisternography imaging service and interpretation.
70015 billing questions
How is this different from radionuclide cisternography?
This code is for contrast cisternography. Code 78630 is used for cisternography performed with a radiopharmaceutical.
Which modifier identifies the radiologist’s interpretation?
Use modifier 26 for the professional component, which represents the interpretation.
When is modifier TC appropriate?
Use TC for the technical component, representing the equipment and staff. Bill without 26 or TC for the global service.
Can the spinal puncture be reported separately?
A separately performed diagnostic lumbar puncture to administer the intrathecal contrast may be reported under the applicable puncture code. The cisternography code represents the imaging service and interpretation.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document that contrast cisternography was performed and include the radiologist’s interpretation of the images and relevant findings, such as assessment of CSF pathways or a suspected leak.
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
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