CPT code 70540: MRI2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $224.45 for 70540 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $197.99–$306.30.

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

What 70540 covers

This service is an MRI examination focused on the orbit, face, or neck, performed without contrast material. It may be ordered to evaluate soft-tissue concerns such as an orbital abnormality or a mass in the face or neck. A radiologic technologist performs the scan, and a physician, typically a radiologist, interprets the images. The exam may take place in a hospital, imaging center, or other setting with MRI equipment.

Report 70540 when the documented study covers the orbit, face, or neck and is performed without contrast. The order and imaging report should support the body region examined and the contrast protocol. The code represents the global service when billed without a component modifier; modifier 26 identifies the physician interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the technical and professional components when the rule is triggered.

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 70540 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

70540 rates by state

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

How the 70540 rate is calculated

Each of 70540’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 70540

The CMS indicators that decide how 70540 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

70540 compared with similar codes

How to choose

70542MRI with contrast

Use 70542 for an orbit, face, or neck MRI performed with contrast; 70540 is for the examination without contrast.

70543Regional MRI

70543 applies when the examination includes imaging both without and with contrast. 70540 covers the noncontrast examination only.

70551Brain MRI

70551 is for a brain MRI without contrast. 70540 is selected when the imaged region is the orbit, face, or neck.

Codes related to 70540

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