Billing code 70190: Orbit X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports plain-film imaging focused on the eye sockets, such as evaluation of suspected orbital injury, with separate professional and technical billing options.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities294 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $36.74 for 70190 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $32.27–$50.16.

Medicare rate · 70190

Orbit X-ray

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0.2
Total RVUs
1.10
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$36.74

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 70190 → · 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
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 70190 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 70190 covers

This service is plain-film imaging focused on the bony structures surrounding the eyes. It may be ordered for suspected orbital injury, including trauma, and is typically performed by a radiologic technologist in an imaging department or office. A radiologist or other qualified practitioner interprets the images. The order and report should make clear that the orbits, rather than the facial bones generally or the eye itself, were the imaging target.

Report the global service when one billing entity provides both image acquisition and interpretation. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical work, equipment, and staff; CMS separately prices both modifiers. For bilateral imaging, CMS pays each side separately at 100%. The record should support the clinical indication, the imaged side or sides, the images obtained, and the interpretation. Select a different radiographic code when the study is specifically for foreign-body screening, facial bones, or another adjacent structure.

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 70190 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

$32.27 to $50.16

$32.27$41.22$50.16
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

70190 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$32.78Unavailable
Alaska*$41.69Unavailable
Arizona$35.73Unavailable
Arkansas$32.27Unavailable
Atlanta$37.37Unavailable
Austin$38.38Unavailable
Bakersfield$39.43Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$39.15Unavailable
Beaumont$34.05Unavailable
Brazoria$36.38Unavailable

70190 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.

$32.27

$44.77

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

View every state and territory as a table
70190 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$41.691
AL$32.781
AR$32.271
AZ$35.731
CA$39.37–$50.1629
CO$38.561
CT$39.281
DC$42.411
DE$36.351
FL$35.78–$38.973
GA$33.69–$37.372
GU$40.491
HI$40.491
IA$33.841
ID$34.041
IL$34.56–$38.104
IN$34.251
KS$33.591
KY$33.421
LA$33.33–$35.102
MA$38.27–$42.642
MD$37.11–$42.413
ME$34.14–$36.232
MI$34.27–$36.172
MN$37.121
MO$32.67–$35.333
MS$32.481
MT$36.741
NC$34.531
ND$36.341
NE$34.061
NH$37.861
NJ$39.78–$41.912
NM$34.441
NV$36.661
NY$35.07–$43.305
OH$34.191
OK$33.451
OR$36.43–$39.942
PA$34.29–$38.202
PR$37.051
RI$37.771
SC$34.411
SD$36.301
TN$33.761
TX$34.05–$38.388
UT$34.911
VA$36.04–$42.412
VI$37.051
VT$36.121
WA$38.23–$43.622
WI$35.041
WV$33.181
WY$36.571

How the 70190 rate is calculated

Each of 70190’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 · 70190

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.20Practice expense 0.88Malpractice 0.02

1.1000 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$36.74

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 70190

The CMS indicators that decide how 70190 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 70190

Orbit X-ray

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)3Each side paid at 100% (no 150% cap).
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

70190 without 26 · national office

$36.74

Orbit X-ray

70190-26 · Professional component

$10.35

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

70190 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

70190 vs 70030 vs 70140 vs 70150 vs 70170: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 70190
    Orbit X-ray · 0.2 wRVU
    $36.74
  • 70030
    Eye X-ray · 0.18 wRVU
    $32.73−$4.01
  • 70140
    Facial bone X-ray · 0.19 wRVU
    $31.73−$5.01
  • 70150
    Facial bone X-ray · 0.25 wRVU
    $46.76+$10.02
  • 70170
    · 0 wRVU
    —

How to choose

70030Eye X-ray
70190 images the bony orbits; 70030 is for radiographic screening of the eye for a foreign body.
70140Facial bone X-ray
Choose 70190 for an orbital study. Choose 70140 when the ordered examination targets facial bones.
70150Facial bone X-ray
70150 is for a facial-bone examination, while 70190 is focused on the eye sockets.
70170X-ray exam of tear duct
70170 evaluates the lacrimal drainage system radiographically; 70190 images the bony orbits.

70190 billing questions

When should 70190 be chosen instead of 70030?

Use 70190 when the study images the bony orbits. Code 70030 is for radiographic screening of the eye for a foreign body.

How are the professional and technical services reported?

Use modifier 26 for the interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.

How is bilateral orbital imaging paid?

CMS pays each side separately at 100% when imaging is performed bilaterally. Document which sides were imaged.

Should facial-bone imaging be included in 70190?

Choose the code that reflects the ordered and performed study. Use a facial-bone radiography code when the examination targets the facial skeleton rather than the orbits.

What documentation supports reporting 70190?

Retain the order and imaging report showing the clinical indication, orbital target, side or sides examined, and interpretation.

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 70190PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,713 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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