Billing code 71101: Rib X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports radiographs of one side of the ribs with a chest view, commonly used to evaluate focal rib pain or suspected rib injury.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities266.2K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $41.75 for 71101 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $36.74–$56.41.

Medicare rate · 71101

Rib X-ray

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0.26
Total RVUs
1.25
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$41.75

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 71101 → · 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 71101 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 71101 covers

This examination images the ribs on one side and includes a posteroanterior chest view, with at least three views in total. It is commonly ordered for focal chest-wall pain or suspected rib injury after trauma. A radiologic technologist obtains the images in settings such as a hospital, emergency department, or outpatient imaging center; a qualified practitioner interprets them and documents the findings.

Choose this code when the study covers one side and includes the chest view, rather than a unilateral rib study without that view. The order and report should identify the side, clinical indication, and imaging findings. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion. Reporting the code without either modifier represents the global service, including both 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 71101 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

$36.74 to $56.41

$36.74$46.58$56.41
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

71101 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$37.31Unavailable
Alaska*$47.73Unavailable
Arizona$40.61Unavailable
Arkansas$36.74Unavailable
Atlanta$42.49Unavailable
Austin$43.51Unavailable
Bakersfield$44.60Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$44.47Unavailable
Beaumont$38.79Unavailable
Brazoria$41.31Unavailable

71101 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.

$36.74

$50.46

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

View every state and territory as a table
71101 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$47.731
AL$37.311
AR$36.741
AZ$40.611
CA$44.51–$56.4129
CO$43.691
CT$44.601
DC$48.041
DE$41.311
FL$40.84–$44.603
GA$38.48–$42.492
GU$45.721
HI$45.721
IA$38.421
ID$38.661
IL$39.53–$43.454
IN$38.901
KS$38.181
KY$38.111
LA$38.02–$40.002
MA$43.39–$48.222
MD$42.14–$48.043
ME$38.81–$41.092
MI$39.09–$41.322
MN$41.981
MO$37.30–$40.213
MS$37.031
MT$41.751
NC$39.241
ND$41.161
NE$38.661
NH$42.941
NJ$45.15–$47.502
NM$39.291
NV$41.621
NY$39.85–$49.235
OH$38.971
OK$38.101
OR$41.33–$45.192
PA$39.07–$43.422
PR$42.091
RI$42.871
SC$39.161
SD$41.091
TN$38.371
TX$38.79–$43.518
UT$39.731
VA$40.91–$48.042
VI$42.091
VT$40.941
WA$43.32–$49.282
WI$39.711
WV$37.981
WY$41.491

How the 71101 rate is calculated

Each of 71101’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 · 71101

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.26Practice expense 0.96Malpractice 0.03

1.2500 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$41.75

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 71101

The CMS indicators that decide how 71101 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 71101

Rib X-ray

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
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

71101 without 26 · national office

$41.75

Rib X-ray

71101-26 · Professional component

$12.69

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

71101 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

71101 vs 71100 vs 71110 vs 71111: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 71101
    Rib X-ray · 0.26 wRVU
    $41.75
  • 71100
    Rib X-ray · 0.21 wRVU
    $36.07−$5.68
  • 71110
    Rib X-ray · 0.28 wRVU
    $42.75+$1.00
  • 71111
    Rib X-ray · 0.31 wRVU
    $51.44+$9.69

How to choose

71100Rib X-ray
Use 71101 when the unilateral rib examination includes a chest view and at least three views total. Use 71100 for unilateral rib views without that chest view.
71110Rib X-ray
71110 covers bilateral rib imaging with three views; 71101 is for one side and includes a chest view.
71111Rib X-ray
71111 is the bilateral study that includes a chest view and requires at least four views. 71101 covers one side with a chest view and at least three views.

71101 billing questions

How does this differ from 71100?

71101 includes a chest view and requires at least three views overall. 71100 is for unilateral rib imaging without the included chest view.

Can the included chest view be billed separately?

The chest view is part of 71101. Do not separately report that same view as a chest radiograph.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation only and TC for the technical service only. Without either modifier, the code represents the global service.

What should the record support?

Document the one-sided rib examination, the chest view, the reason for imaging, and the interpreted findings. The order and report should make the side examined clear.

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 71101PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,895 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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