Billing code 70460: Head CTMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports a CT examination of the head or brain performed with contrast when the clinical question calls for contrast-enhanced intracranial imaging.
Medicare pays $148.30 for 70460 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $131.54–$198.93.
Medicare rate · 70460
Head CT
- Work RVUs
- 1.1
- Total RVUs
- 4.44
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$148.30
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 70460 →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 70460 covers
This service uses computed tomography to create cross-sectional images of the head or brain after contrast is administered. It is commonly performed in a hospital or outpatient imaging center, with technologists acquiring the study and a radiologist interpreting the images. Clinical questions may include evaluation of a suspected intracranial mass or infection when contrast-enhanced imaging is requested.
Report 70460 when the documented study covers the head or brain and uses contrast only. A report should support the body region examined, contrast protocol, and interpretation; a study performed both before and after contrast belongs to the corresponding combined-protocol code. The service may be billed globally, or its professional interpretation and technical imaging service may be reported separately with modifiers 26 and TC. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the professional and technical 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 70460 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
$131.54 to $198.93
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $133.43 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $172.38 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $144.50 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $131.54 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $150.75 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $154.33 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $158.24 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $157.52 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $138.32 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $146.96 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $152.99 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $155.03 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $158.02 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $147.77 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $169.95 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $146.88 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $146.56 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $142.66 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $157.97 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $152.14 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $146.72 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $147.32 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $161.91 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $148.96 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $138.03 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $138.83 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $137.26 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $136.39 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $136.00 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $168.66 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $170.00 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $170.53 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $141.61 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $153.99 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $143.10 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $157.35 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $149.33 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $132.43 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $148.29 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $183.66 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $138.07 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $147.91 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $152.37 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $139.89 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $142.30 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $139.94 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $146.51 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $168.19 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $173.74 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $138.88 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $136.01 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $167.95 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $160.17 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $160.90 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $149.45 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $171.74 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $145.04 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $137.15 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $140.55 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $135.69 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $138.48 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $149.72 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $154.03 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $139.24 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $133.24 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $160.05 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $141.98 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $146.97 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $139.23 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $142.47 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $153.81 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $152.26 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $158.94 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $165.92 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $165.30 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $169.30 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $194.67 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $194.57 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $198.93 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $198.51 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $162.62 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $171.02 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $165.95 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $172.76 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $174.23 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $139.60 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $146.30 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $146.21 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $153.81 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $137.03 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $141.48 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $183.51 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $145.73 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $149.45 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $145.57 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $157.95 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $135.38 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $141.66 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $147.52 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $157.95 | Unavailable |
70460 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.
$131.54
$178.44
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 | $172.38 | 1 |
| AL | $133.43 | 1 |
| AR | $131.54 | 1 |
| AZ | $144.50 | 1 |
| CA | $157.95–$198.93 | 29 |
| CO | $155.03 | 1 |
| CT | $158.02 | 1 |
| DC | $169.95 | 1 |
| DE | $146.88 | 1 |
| FL | $145.04–$157.35 | 3 |
| GA | $137.15–$150.75 | 2 |
| GU | $161.91 | 1 |
| HI | $161.91 | 1 |
| IA | $137.26 | 1 |
| ID | $138.03 | 1 |
| IL | $140.55–$153.81 | 4 |
| IN | $138.83 | 1 |
| KS | $136.39 | 1 |
| KY | $136.00 | 1 |
| LA | $135.69–$142.30 | 2 |
| MA | $154.03–$170.53 | 2 |
| MD | $149.72–$169.95 | 3 |
| ME | $138.48–$146.21 | 2 |
| MI | $139.24–$146.56 | 2 |
| MN | $149.33 | 1 |
| MO | $133.24–$143.10 | 3 |
| MS | $132.43 | 1 |
| MT | $148.29 | 1 |
| NC | $139.94 | 1 |
| ND | $146.51 | 1 |
| NE | $138.07 | 1 |
| NH | $152.37 | 1 |
| NJ | $160.05–$168.19 | 2 |
| NM | $139.89 | 1 |
| NV | $147.91 | 1 |
| NY | $141.98–$173.74 | 5 |
| OH | $138.88 | 1 |
| OK | $136.01 | 1 |
| OR | $146.97–$160.17 | 2 |
| PA | $139.23–$153.99 | 2 |
| PR | $149.45 | 1 |
| RI | $152.26 | 1 |
| SC | $139.60 | 1 |
| SD | $146.30 | 1 |
| TN | $137.03 | 1 |
| TX | $138.32–$154.33 | 8 |
| UT | $141.48 | 1 |
| VA | $145.57–$169.95 | 2 |
| VI | $149.45 | 1 |
| VT | $145.73 | 1 |
| WA | $153.81–$174.23 | 2 |
| WI | $141.66 | 1 |
| WV | $135.38 | 1 |
| WY | $147.52 | 1 |
How the 70460 rate is calculated
Each of 70460’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 · 70460
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.10
1.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.25
3.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.09
0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.4400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$148.30
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70460
The CMS indicators that decide how 70460 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70460
Head CT
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 4 | Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services. |
| 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
70460 without 26 · national office
$148.30
Head CT
70460-26 · Professional component
$52.11
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70460 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 70450Head CT
- 70450 is for a head or brain CT without contrast; 70460 is for contrast only.
- 70470Head CT
- 70470 covers a protocol with images before and after contrast. 70460 covers a contrast-only protocol.
- 70496Ct angiography head
- 70496 is a head CTA focused on vascular structures. 70460 is a contrast-enhanced CT of the head or brain, not a CTA.
70460 billing questions
When should 70460 be chosen over 70450?
Use 70460 for a head or brain CT performed with contrast only. Use 70450 when the study is performed without contrast.
How does 70460 differ from 70470?
70460 represents a contrast-only study. Choose 70470 when the documented protocol includes images both without and with contrast.
Can the interpretation and scan be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.
Does the imaging multiple procedure reduction affect both components?
Yes. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the professional and technical components.
Is 70460 the right code for a head CTA?
No. 70460 is a contrast-enhanced head or brain CT, not a CT angiography study. A vascular study should be coded to the applicable CTA service.
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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