Billing code 70492: CT neckMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $219.78 for 70492 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $195.08–$296.37.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 70492 covers

This examination uses computed tomography to assess soft tissues in the neck, including structures such as cervical lymph nodes, salivary glands, and the pharynx or larynx. It may be ordered to evaluate a neck mass, enlarged nodes, or suspected deep neck infection. A radiologic technologist acquires the images, typically with intravenous contrast for the enhanced portion, and a radiologist interprets the study in an outpatient imaging center or hospital department.

Report this code when the examination includes images obtained both without and with contrast; a contrast-only study is coded differently. The order and report should support the clinical indication, the neck anatomy examined, both image sets, and the interpreting physician’s findings. Billing without a component modifier represents the global service. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical service. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are performed, the multiple procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional 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 70492 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

70492 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 70492 rate is calculated

Each of 70492’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 70492

The CMS indicators that decide how 70492 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

70492 compared with similar codes

How to choose

70490Neck CT

70490 is for a soft-tissue neck CT performed without contrast. Choose 70492 when the examination includes both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced image sets.

70491CT neck

70491 describes a soft-tissue neck CT performed with contrast only. This code requires image acquisition both before and after contrast.

70498Ct angiography neck

70498 is CT angiography of the neck, used for vascular imaging. This code is for routine soft-tissue neck CT with and without contrast.

Codes related to 70492

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates