Billing code 70160: Nasal bone X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports a multi-view X-ray examination focused on the nasal bones, commonly ordered to assess suspected fracture after blunt facial trauma.
Medicare pays $37.41 for 70160 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $32.71–$51.45.
Medicare rate · 70160
Nasal bone X-ray
- Work RVUs
- 0.17
- Total RVUs
- 1.12
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$37.41
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 70160 →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 70160 covers
This examination uses multiple X-ray projections focused on the nasal bones to assess bony injury, such as a suspected nasal fracture after a blow to the nose. A radiologic technologist positions the patient and acquires the images; a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them. It is typically performed in an outpatient imaging department, hospital, or radiology practice.
Report the code when the documented study is a multi-view nasal-bone examination, rather than imaging of the broader facial skeleton or another nearby structure. The order and report should identify the clinical indication and the nasal bones examined; the images should support the reported study. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service, including both components.
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 70160 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
$32.71 to $51.45
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $33.24 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $41.97 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $36.35 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $32.71 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $38.06 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $39.15 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $40.24 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $39.93 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $34.57 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $37.03 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $38.47 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $39.32 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $40.05 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $37.24 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $43.32 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $37.00 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $36.78 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $35.60 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $38.35 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $36.94 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $37.12 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $41.38 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $37.49 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $34.57 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $34.80 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $34.37 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $34.10 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $33.90 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $43.10 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $43.20 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $43.59 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $35.50 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $38.91 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $35.92 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $39.70 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $37.84 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $32.92 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $37.41 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $47.32 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $34.60 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $37.33 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $38.60 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $34.97 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $35.67 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $35.09 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $37.01 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $42.78 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $44.22 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $34.71 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $33.94 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $42.97 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $40.78 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $40.76 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $37.74 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $43.72 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $36.38 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $34.18 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $35.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $33.81 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $34.67 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $37.78 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $39.01 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $34.79 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $33.10 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $40.56 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $35.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $37.09 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $34.83 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $35.76 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $38.97 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $38.47 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $40.40 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $42.37 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $42.21 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $43.36 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $50.32 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $50.30 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $51.45 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $51.36 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $41.51 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $43.90 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $42.41 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $44.35 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $44.62 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $34.95 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $36.97 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $36.88 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $38.80 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $34.27 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $35.48 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $47.28 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $36.77 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $37.74 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $36.68 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $40.18 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $33.63 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $35.64 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $37.24 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $40.18 | Unavailable |
70160 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.
$32.71
$45.82
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 | $41.97 | 1 |
| AL | $33.24 | 1 |
| AR | $32.71 | 1 |
| AZ | $36.35 | 1 |
| CA | $40.18–$51.45 | 29 |
| CO | $39.32 | 1 |
| CT | $40.05 | 1 |
| DC | $43.32 | 1 |
| DE | $37.00 | 1 |
| FL | $36.38–$39.70 | 3 |
| GA | $34.18–$38.06 | 2 |
| GU | $41.38 | 1 |
| HI | $41.38 | 1 |
| IA | $34.37 | 1 |
| ID | $34.57 | 1 |
| IL | $35.08–$38.80 | 4 |
| IN | $34.80 | 1 |
| KS | $34.10 | 1 |
| KY | $33.90 | 1 |
| LA | $33.81–$35.67 | 2 |
| MA | $39.01–$43.59 | 2 |
| MD | $37.78–$43.32 | 3 |
| ME | $34.67–$36.88 | 2 |
| MI | $34.79–$36.78 | 2 |
| MN | $37.84 | 1 |
| MO | $33.10–$35.92 | 3 |
| MS | $32.92 | 1 |
| MT | $37.41 | 1 |
| NC | $35.09 | 1 |
| ND | $37.01 | 1 |
| NE | $34.60 | 1 |
| NH | $38.60 | 1 |
| NJ | $40.56–$42.78 | 2 |
| NM | $34.97 | 1 |
| NV | $37.33 | 1 |
| NY | $35.66–$44.22 | 5 |
| OH | $34.71 | 1 |
| OK | $33.94 | 1 |
| OR | $37.09–$40.78 | 2 |
| PA | $34.83–$38.91 | 2 |
| PR | $37.74 | 1 |
| RI | $38.47 | 1 |
| SC | $34.95 | 1 |
| SD | $36.97 | 1 |
| TN | $34.27 | 1 |
| TX | $34.57–$39.15 | 8 |
| UT | $35.48 | 1 |
| VA | $36.68–$43.32 | 2 |
| VI | $37.74 | 1 |
| VT | $36.77 | 1 |
| WA | $38.97–$44.62 | 2 |
| WI | $35.64 | 1 |
| WV | $33.63 | 1 |
| WY | $37.24 | 1 |
How the 70160 rate is calculated
Each of 70160’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 · 70160
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.17
0.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.93
0.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.1200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$37.41
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70160
The CMS indicators that decide how 70160 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70160
Nasal bone X-ray
| 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
70160 without 26 · national office
$37.41
Nasal bone X-ray
70160-26 · Professional component
$8.35
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70160 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
70160 vs 70140 vs 70150: Medicare rates
How to choose
- 70140Facial bone X-ray
- 70140 covers a limited-view examination of the facial bones. Choose 70160 when the study specifically targets the nasal bones.
- 70150Facial bone X-ray
- 70150 covers a complete multi-view examination of the facial bones. Choose 70160 for a multi-view study focused on the nasal bones rather than the broader facial skeleton.
70160 billing questions
When should 70160 be chosen instead of a facial-bone X-ray?
Use 70160 for a multi-view study focused on the nasal bones, such as evaluation of a suspected nasal fracture. Use a facial-bone code when the ordered examination covers the broader facial skeleton.
How does 70160 differ from 70140 and 70150?
70160 is focused on the nasal bones. Codes 70140 and 70150 describe facial-bone examinations, with the choice between them based on the view count and completeness of that broader study.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 reports the physician's interpretation, while modifier TC reports the equipment and staff portion. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 70160?
The order and imaging report should establish that the study targets the nasal bones and document the reason for imaging, such as trauma with concern for fracture. The images should support the multi-view examination reported.
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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