Billing code 70553: Brain MRIMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $316.97 for 70553 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $280.94–$427.51.

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

What 70553 covers

Brain MRI under this code covers the brain and brain stem using diagnostic noncontrast sequences followed by contrast-enhanced sequences during one examination. Sequences may include T1, T2, FLAIR, and diffusion imaging before intravenous gadolinium, with additional imaging afterward. Radiologists or neuroradiologists interpret examinations performed in hospital radiology departments, outpatient imaging centers, or physician offices. Typical reasons to obtain both phases include assessment of a brain tumor or metastases, active demyelination, intracranial infection, or a pituitary lesion.

Report one unit for the combined examination, rather than reporting 70551 and 70552 for its separate phases. Documentation should establish that diagnostic images were obtained before and after contrast administration; the administration record supports the agent and amount if the supply is separately reported. The interpreting physician reports the professional component with modifier 26, while the provider furnishing equipment and staff reports the technical component with modifier TC. An entity furnishing both components reports the global service without either modifier. Medicare's diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction affects professional and technical components when this examination is performed with other eligible imaging services under the applicable same-session criteria.

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 70553 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

70553 rates by state

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

How the 70553 rate is calculated

Each of 70553’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 70553

The CMS indicators that decide how 70553 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

70553 compared with similar codes

How to choose

70552MRI brain

Use 70552 when diagnostic brain imaging is performed only after contrast administration. Use 70553 when the examination includes both diagnostic noncontrast and postcontrast brain sequences.

70546Head MR angiography

Code 70546 evaluates intracranial arteries with MRA performed without and with contrast. Code 70553 evaluates brain tissue; report both when separate, complete examinations are performed.

70543Regional MRI

Code 70543 examines the orbits, face, or neck without and with contrast, rather than the brain. Report it alongside 70553 only when both regions receive separate, complete examinations.

70559Mri brain w/o & w/dye

Code 70559 describes brain MRI without and with contrast during an open intracranial procedure. Code 70553 describes the corresponding diagnostic examination outside that setting.

Codes related to 70553

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