Billing code 70330: TMJ X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs

Bilateral temporomandibular joint radiographs assess jaw-joint motion and bony alignment, typically for pain, clicking, restricted movement, or suspected structural abnormality.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities3.9K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $53.44 for 70330 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $46.76–$73.91.

Medicare rate · 70330

TMJ X-ray

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0.23
Total RVUs
1.60
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$53.44

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 70330 → · 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 70330 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 70330 covers

70330 covers plain-film imaging of both temporomandibular joints (TMJs) with the jaw positioned open and closed, allowing comparison of joint movement and bony relationships. It is commonly ordered for persistent preauricular jaw pain, clicking, or limited opening when a clinician needs radiographic assessment of the joints. Dental practices, oral and maxillofacial clinics, and hospital or freestanding imaging departments may obtain the study; a radiologist or other qualified interpreting practitioner reviews the images and reports the findings.

Report 70330 for the bilateral open- and closed-mouth TMJ examination, rather than coding each side as a separate unilateral study. The order and report should identify the symptoms or suspected joint problem, document that both joints and the requested mouth positions were imaged, and include an interpretation. CMS treats this as a diagnostic test with separately priced professional and technical components: use modifier 26 for interpretation, TC for equipment and staff, or neither for the global service. CMS pricing already accounts for both sides, so modifier 50 does not increase payment.

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 70330 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

$46.76 to $73.91

$46.76$60.33$73.91
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

70330 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$47.52Unavailable
Alaska*$59.91Unavailable
Arizona$51.95Unavailable
Arkansas$46.76Unavailable
Atlanta$54.32Unavailable
Austin$56.00Unavailable
Bakersfield$57.65Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$57.01Unavailable
Beaumont$49.34Unavailable
Brazoria$52.95Unavailable

70330 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.

$46.76

$65.75

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

View every state and territory as a table
70330 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$59.911
AL$47.521
AR$46.761
AZ$51.951
CA$57.59–$73.9129
CO$56.271
CT$57.211
DC$61.961
DE$52.871
FL$51.79–$56.313
GA$48.70–$54.322
GU$59.341
HI$59.341
IA$49.211
ID$49.481
IL$49.89–$55.234
IN$49.811
KS$48.781
KY$48.381
LA$48.23–$50.872
MA$55.82–$62.432
MD$54.00–$61.963
ME$49.58–$52.792
MI$49.60–$52.322
MN$54.281
MO$47.20–$51.283
MS$47.001
MT$53.441
NC$50.181
ND$53.041
NE$49.551
NH$55.211
NJ$57.96–$61.192
NM$49.831
NV$53.371
NY$50.99–$63.035
OH$49.521
OK$48.471
OR$53.06–$58.402
PA$49.71–$55.562
PR$53.931
RI$55.001
SC$49.911
SD$53.001
TN$49.031
TX$49.34–$56.008
UT$50.671
VA$52.48–$61.962
VI$53.931
VT$52.661
WA$55.77–$63.942
WI$51.091
WV$47.821
WY$53.271

How the 70330 rate is calculated

Each of 70330’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 · 70330

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.23Practice expense 1.35Malpractice 0.02

1.6000 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$53.44

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 70330

The CMS indicators that decide how 70330 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 70330

TMJ X-ray

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)2Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%.
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

70330 without 26 · national office

$53.44

TMJ X-ray

70330-26 · Professional component

$11.36

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

70330 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

70330 vs 70328 vs 70332 vs 70336 vs 70355: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 70330
    TMJ X-ray · 0.23 wRVU
    $53.44
  • 70328
    Jaw joint X-ray · 0.18 wRVU
    $34.07−$19.37
  • 70332
    TMJ imaging · 0.53 wRVU
    $79.83+$26.39
  • 70336
    Jaw joint MRI · 1.44 wRVU
    $259.19+$205.75
  • 70355
    Panoramic jaw x-ray · 0.2 wRVU
    $19.37−$34.07

How to choose

70328Jaw joint X-ray
70328 describes unilateral TMJ radiography; 70330 covers both joints with open- and closed-mouth imaging.
70332TMJ imaging
70332 is for TMJ arthrography with radiologic supervision and interpretation, not the plain-film examination reported with 70330.
70336Jaw joint MRI
70336 reports MRI of the TMJ. Choose it for an MRI study, not open- and closed-mouth radiographs.
70355Panoramic jaw x-ray
70355 is a panoramic radiograph of the jaws; 70330 specifically evaluates both TMJ regions in open and closed positions.

70330 billing questions

When should 70330 be selected instead of 70328?

Use 70330 for the bilateral TMJ radiographic examination. Code 70328 describes a unilateral examination.

Does 70330 include imaging both joints?

Yes. It represents a bilateral TMJ examination with the mouth open and closed; it is not reported as separate right- and left-side services.

How are the professional and technical portions billed?

Report modifier 26 for the interpretation and TC for the equipment and staff portion. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.

Should modifier 50 be appended?

CMS pricing for 70330 already accounts for both sides, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.

What documentation supports reporting 70330?

Document the jaw-joint symptoms or suspected problem, imaging of both TMJs in open and closed positions, and the interpreting practitioner's findings.

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 70330PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,748 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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