Billing code 71048: Chest X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports a chest radiographic examination with at least four views, selected when the ordered study requires more projections than the three-view level.
Medicare pays $45.09 for 71048 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $39.80–$60.79.
Medicare rate · 71048
Chest X-ray
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.3
- Total RVUs
- 1.35
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$45.09
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 71048 → · 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 71048 covers
This code describes a chest radiographic study that includes four or more views, meaning distinct projections of the chest rather than simply multiple images of one projection. A radiologic technologist typically acquires the images in an outpatient imaging department, hospital, or office; a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them and documents the findings. The ordering clinician may request additional projections to evaluate a particular chest concern.
Select the code from the number of views performed, not from the diagnosis or the number of images produced. The order, imaging record, and interpretation should support a chest study with at least four views. Medicare recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: modifier 26 reports the interpretation, modifier TC reports the equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service, including both portions.
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 71048 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
$39.80 to $60.79
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $40.40 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $51.87 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $43.89 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $39.80 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $45.87 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $46.97 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $48.16 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $47.98 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $41.95 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $44.64 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $46.63 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $47.17 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $48.13 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $44.90 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $51.81 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $44.63 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $44.59 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $43.38 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $46.34 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $44.58 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $44.76 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $49.34 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $45.31 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $41.84 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $42.09 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $41.59 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $41.32 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $41.22 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $51.40 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $51.84 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $52.00 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $42.99 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $46.86 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $43.46 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $48.02 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $45.37 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $40.09 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $45.09 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $56.06 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $41.84 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $44.96 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $46.36 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $42.46 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $43.22 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $42.45 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $44.50 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $51.24 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $53.03 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $42.14 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $41.22 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $51.19 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $48.78 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $48.99 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $45.45 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $52.38 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $44.10 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $41.60 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $42.69 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $41.13 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $41.99 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $45.52 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $46.85 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $42.26 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $40.36 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $48.72 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $43.09 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $44.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $42.24 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $43.26 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $46.79 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $46.30 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $48.39 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $50.54 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $50.35 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $51.61 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $59.47 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $59.44 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $60.79 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $60.65 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $49.53 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $52.16 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $50.56 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $52.69 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $53.14 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $42.35 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $44.43 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $44.41 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $46.85 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $41.53 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $42.94 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $56.01 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $44.26 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $45.45 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $44.22 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $48.07 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $41.06 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $42.97 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $48.07 | Unavailable |
71048 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.
$39.80
$54.43
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 | $51.87 | 1 |
| AL | $40.40 | 1 |
| AR | $39.80 | 1 |
| AZ | $43.89 | 1 |
| CA | $48.07–$60.79 | 29 |
| CO | $47.17 | 1 |
| CT | $48.13 | 1 |
| DC | $51.81 | 1 |
| DE | $44.63 | 1 |
| FL | $44.10–$48.02 | 3 |
| GA | $41.60–$45.87 | 2 |
| GU | $49.34 | 1 |
| HI | $49.34 | 1 |
| IA | $41.59 | 1 |
| ID | $41.84 | 1 |
| IL | $42.69–$46.85 | 4 |
| IN | $42.09 | 1 |
| KS | $41.32 | 1 |
| KY | $41.22 | 1 |
| LA | $41.13–$43.22 | 2 |
| MA | $46.85–$52.00 | 2 |
| MD | $45.52–$51.81 | 3 |
| ME | $41.99–$44.41 | 2 |
| MI | $42.26–$44.59 | 2 |
| MN | $45.37 | 1 |
| MO | $40.36–$43.46 | 3 |
| MS | $40.09 | 1 |
| MT | $45.09 | 1 |
| NC | $42.45 | 1 |
| ND | $44.50 | 1 |
| NE | $41.84 | 1 |
| NH | $46.36 | 1 |
| NJ | $48.72–$51.24 | 2 |
| NM | $42.46 | 1 |
| NV | $44.96 | 1 |
| NY | $43.09–$53.03 | 5 |
| OH | $42.14 | 1 |
| OK | $41.22 | 1 |
| OR | $44.66–$48.78 | 2 |
| PA | $42.24–$46.86 | 2 |
| PR | $45.45 | 1 |
| RI | $46.30 | 1 |
| SC | $42.35 | 1 |
| SD | $44.43 | 1 |
| TN | $41.53 | 1 |
| TX | $41.95–$46.97 | 8 |
| UT | $42.94 | 1 |
| VA | $44.22–$51.81 | 2 |
| VI | $45.45 | 1 |
| VT | $44.26 | 1 |
| WA | $46.79–$53.14 | 2 |
| WI | $42.97 | 1 |
| WV | $41.06 | 1 |
| WY | $44.83 | 1 |
How the 71048 rate is calculated
Each of 71048’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 · 71048
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.30Practice expense 1.02Malpractice 0.03
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 71048
The CMS indicators that decide how 71048 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 71048
Chest X-ray
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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
71048 without 26 · national office
$45.09
Chest X-ray
71048-26 · Professional component
$14.70
Pays only the interpretation and report.
71048 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
71048 vs 71045 vs 71046 vs 71047: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 71045Chest X-ray
- 71045 is the one-view chest study; 71048 requires at least four distinct views.
- 71046Chest X-ray
- 71046 applies to a two-view chest study, while 71048 applies when four or more views are performed.
- 71047Chest X-ray
- 71047 covers three chest views. Choose 71048 when the examination includes a fourth view or more.
71048 billing questions
When should a biller choose 71048 instead of 71047?
Use 71048 when the chest examination includes four or more views. Use 71047 when it includes three views; the performed view count distinguishes the levels.
Do multiple images of one projection count as multiple views?
No. The code level follows the number of distinct radiographic projections, not the number of image files or exposures.
What do modifiers 26 and TC represent for this code?
Modifier 26 identifies the physician's professional interpretation. Modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff; without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 71048?
The imaging documentation should establish that four or more chest views were obtained, and the interpreting provider should document the findings. The order and report should correspond to the chest examination performed.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. CMS separately prices the professional and technical components for this diagnostic test when reported with modifiers 26 and TC, respectively.
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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