Billing code 70543: Regional MRIMedicare rate & RVUs

MRI of the orbits, face, or neck with imaging before and after contrast, reported when the examination covers these structures and includes both phases.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities77.6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $337.02 for 70543 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $297.66–$458.15.

Medicare rate · 70543

Regional MRI

Work RVUs
2.1
Total RVUs
10.09
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$337.02

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 70543 →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 70543 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 70543 covers

This examination images the orbits, facial structures, or neck using MRI sequences obtained before and after contrast administration. Radiologists interpret these studies for questions such as an orbital or facial mass, suspected inflammation, or a neck soft-tissue abnormality. The imaging may be performed in a hospital or outpatient imaging center, or in an office with MRI equipment.

Report 70543 when the documented examination includes the relevant orbit, face, or neck anatomy and both pre-contrast and post-contrast imaging. The report should support the body region examined, use of contrast, and the interpreting findings. Billing without a component modifier represents the global service; modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. CMS multiple-procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional components when multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are reported.

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 70543 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

$297.66 to $458.15

$297.66$377.90$458.15
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

70543 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$302.11Unavailable
Alaska*$386.86Unavailable
Arizona$328.18Unavailable
Arkansas$297.66Unavailable
Atlanta$342.42Unavailable
Austin$351.77Unavailable
Bakersfield$361.53Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$358.44Unavailable
Beaumont$313.09Unavailable
Brazoria$334.12Unavailable

70543 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.

$297.66

$409.59

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

View every state and territory as a table
70543 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$386.861
AL$302.111
AR$297.661
AZ$328.181
CA$361.02–$458.1529
CO$353.521
CT$359.631
DC$387.981
DE$333.721
FL$328.01–$355.413
GA$309.70–$342.422
GU$370.781
HI$370.781
IA$311.741
ID$313.431
IL$317.05–$348.444
IN$315.321
KS$309.391
KY$307.521
LA$306.69–$322.252
MA$351.00–$390.142
MD$340.45–$387.983
ME$314.17–$332.812
MI$314.88–$331.292
MN$341.081
MO$300.75–$324.463
MS$299.311
MT$337.011
NC$317.661
ND$334.041
NE$313.741
NH$347.131
NJ$364.40–$383.672
NM$316.291
NV$336.441
NY$322.43–$395.295
OH$314.271
OK$307.881
OR$334.48–$365.922
PA$315.27–$349.982
PR$339.821
RI$346.451
SC$316.361
SD$333.691
TN$310.871
TX$313.09–$351.778
UT$320.791
VA$331.09–$387.982
VI$339.821
VT$331.921
WA$350.61–$399.052
WI$322.551
WV$304.871
WY$335.711

How the 70543 rate is calculated

Each of 70543’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 · 70543

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work2.10

2.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.84

7.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.15

0.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

10.0900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$337.02

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 70543

The CMS indicators that decide how 70543 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 70543

Regional MRI

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures4Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
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

70543 without 26 · national office

$337.02

Regional MRI

70543-26 · Professional component

$98.87

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

70543 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 70543

    Regional MRI2.1 wRVU

    $337.02

  • 70540

    MRI1.32 wRVU

    $224.45−$112.57

  • 70542

    MRI with contrast1.58 wRVU

    $266.54−$70.48

  • 70549

    Neck MRA1.76 wRVU

    $343.36+$6.34

How to choose

70540MRI
70540 is for the same regional anatomy imaged without contrast; 70543 includes imaging before and after contrast.
70542MRI with contrast
70542 covers the same regional anatomy with contrast only. Choose 70543 when the examination includes both pre-contrast and post-contrast imaging.
70549Neck MRA
70549 is an MRA of the neck performed before and after contrast to evaluate vessels; 70543 images orbit, face, or neck structures rather than serving as a neck angiogram.

70543 billing questions

When should 70543 be chosen instead of 70540 or 70542?

Use 70543 when the examination includes imaging both before and after contrast. Use 70540 for imaging without contrast and 70542 for imaging with contrast only.

Can the professional interpretation and technical service 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 multiple-procedure reduction affect this MRI?

CMS applies diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction to both the technical and professional components when multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are reported.

What documentation supports reporting 70543?

Document the orbit, face, or neck anatomy examined, that imaging was performed before and after contrast, and the interpretation findings.

Is 70543 the same as an MRA of the neck?

No. 70543 is an MRI examination of orbit, face, or neck structures; an MRA of the neck evaluates blood vessels.

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 70543PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,835 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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