Billing code 71130: Joint X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports targeted radiographs of the sternoclavicular joints when three or more views are obtained to evaluate the joints and adjacent anatomy.
Medicare pays $41.42 for 71130 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $36.34–$56.79.
Medicare rate · 71130
Joint X-ray
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.21
- Total RVUs
- 1.24
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$41.42
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 71130 → · 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 71130 covers
This study uses X-rays to image the sternoclavicular joints, where the collarbones meet the breastbone, with three or more views. It may be ordered for pain, trauma, swelling, or suspected joint abnormality. A radiologic technologist obtains the images, and a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them. The study is performed in settings with diagnostic X-ray equipment, including hospitals and imaging centers.
Report 71130 for the sternoclavicular joint examination when the documented study includes at least three views; select a different code when the requested anatomy or examination does not match. The order, imaging record, and interpretation should support the body site, views obtained, and clinical reason for the study. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.
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 71130 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
$36.34 to $56.79
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36.91 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $46.82 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $40.28 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $36.34 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $42.11 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $43.31 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $44.53 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $44.15 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $38.33 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $41.02 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $42.50 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $43.51 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $44.30 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $41.25 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $47.88 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $40.98 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $40.69 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $39.40 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $44.47 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $42.40 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $40.92 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $41.12 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $45.76 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $41.49 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $38.37 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $38.61 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $38.15 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $37.85 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $37.62 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $47.65 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $47.72 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $48.18 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $39.34 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $43.06 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $39.80 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $43.82 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $41.93 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $36.55 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $41.42 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $52.26 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $38.40 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $41.34 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $42.72 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $38.75 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $39.52 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $38.92 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $41.02 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $47.30 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $48.81 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $38.49 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $37.66 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $47.50 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $45.10 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $45.08 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $41.78 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $48.30 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $40.27 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $37.90 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $38.86 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $37.51 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $38.47 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $41.84 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $43.18 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $38.57 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $36.74 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $44.87 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $39.53 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $41.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $38.61 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $39.63 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $43.14 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $42.59 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $44.68 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $46.86 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $46.69 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $47.93 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $55.55 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $55.53 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $56.79 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $56.70 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $45.92 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $48.51 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $46.90 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $49.01 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $49.30 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $38.75 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $40.97 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $40.87 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $42.89 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $38.04 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $39.32 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $52.23 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $40.75 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $41.78 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $40.65 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $44.46 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $37.29 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $39.54 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $41.24 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $44.46 | Unavailable |
71130 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.
$36.34
$50.63
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 | $46.82 | 1 |
| AL | $36.91 | 1 |
| AR | $36.34 | 1 |
| AZ | $40.28 | 1 |
| CA | $44.46–$56.79 | 29 |
| CO | $43.51 | 1 |
| CT | $44.30 | 1 |
| DC | $47.88 | 1 |
| DE | $40.98 | 1 |
| FL | $40.27–$43.82 | 3 |
| GA | $37.90–$42.11 | 2 |
| GU | $45.76 | 1 |
| HI | $45.76 | 1 |
| IA | $38.15 | 1 |
| ID | $38.37 | 1 |
| IL | $38.86–$42.89 | 4 |
| IN | $38.61 | 1 |
| KS | $37.85 | 1 |
| KY | $37.62 | 1 |
| LA | $37.51–$39.52 | 2 |
| MA | $43.18–$48.18 | 2 |
| MD | $41.84–$47.88 | 3 |
| ME | $38.47–$40.87 | 2 |
| MI | $38.57–$40.69 | 2 |
| MN | $41.93 | 1 |
| MO | $36.74–$39.80 | 3 |
| MS | $36.55 | 1 |
| MT | $41.42 | 1 |
| NC | $38.92 | 1 |
| ND | $41.02 | 1 |
| NE | $38.40 | 1 |
| NH | $42.72 | 1 |
| NJ | $44.87–$47.30 | 2 |
| NM | $38.75 | 1 |
| NV | $41.34 | 1 |
| NY | $39.53–$48.81 | 5 |
| OH | $38.49 | 1 |
| OK | $37.66 | 1 |
| OR | $41.08–$45.10 | 2 |
| PA | $38.61–$43.06 | 2 |
| PR | $41.78 | 1 |
| RI | $42.59 | 1 |
| SC | $38.75 | 1 |
| SD | $40.97 | 1 |
| TN | $38.04 | 1 |
| TX | $38.33–$43.31 | 8 |
| UT | $39.32 | 1 |
| VA | $40.65–$47.88 | 2 |
| VI | $41.78 | 1 |
| VT | $40.75 | 1 |
| WA | $43.14–$49.30 | 2 |
| WI | $39.54 | 1 |
| WV | $37.29 | 1 |
| WY | $41.24 | 1 |
How the 71130 rate is calculated
Each of 71130’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 · 71130
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.21Practice expense 1.01Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 71130
The CMS indicators that decide how 71130 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 71130
Joint 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
71130 without 26 · national office
$41.42
Joint X-ray
71130-26 · Professional component
$10.35
Pays only the interpretation and report.
71130 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
71130 vs 71120 vs 73000 vs 73030: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 71120Sternum X-ray
- 71120 is for radiographs focused on the sternum. Choose 71130 when the sternoclavicular joints are the target and three or more views are obtained.
- 73000Clavicle X-ray
- 73000 examines the clavicle. Use 71130 for a study directed to the sternoclavicular joints rather than the clavicle as a whole.
- 73030Shoulder X-ray
- 73030 covers shoulder radiographs. It is not the code for a targeted sternoclavicular joint examination.
71130 billing questions
When should 71130 be selected instead of a clavicle X-ray?
Use 71130 when the examination is directed to the sternoclavicular joints and includes three or more views. A clavicle study is selected when the clavicle itself is the target anatomy.
What do modifiers 26 and TC represent?
Modifier 26 reports the professional interpretation, while modifier TC reports the technical portion, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Does each image count as a separate unit?
The code describes the examination with three or more views, rather than separate reporting for each image. Documentation should show the views obtained and the anatomy examined.
What documentation supports reporting 71130?
The record should identify the sternoclavicular joints as the imaged anatomy, show that at least three views were obtained, and include the clinical indication and physician interpretation.
Can the professional interpretation be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional component when the interpreting clinician bills separately; modifier TC identifies the technical component when billed separately.
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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