Billing code 72020: Spine X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs
Report a single-view spine radiograph when one image is obtained to assess or localize a spinal level, rather than a multiview or entire-spine study.
Medicare pays $23.71 for 72020 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $20.89–$31.82.
Medicare rate · 72020
Spine X-ray
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.16
- Total RVUs
- 0.71
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$23.71
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 72020 → · 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 72020 covers
This service covers a diagnostic X-ray examination of the spine consisting of one view. It may be used to assess a spinal finding or to localize a vertebral level, including when a clinician needs a single image during a procedure. A radiologist or other qualified practitioner interprets the image; imaging staff perform the technical work in an office, hospital, or other imaging setting.
Select the code when the documented examination is limited to one spine view; use a regional or entire-spine code when the study covers that defined area or includes more views. The record should identify the spinal level or region, the view obtained, the clinical reason, and the interpretation. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, 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 72020 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
$20.89 to $31.82
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $21.21 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $27.24 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $23.07 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $20.89 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $24.15 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $24.68 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $25.25 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $25.25 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $22.07 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $23.45 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $24.71 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $24.77 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $25.32 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $23.60 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $27.23 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $23.46 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $23.55 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $22.98 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $25.20 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $24.48 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $23.43 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $23.52 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $25.86 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $23.88 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $21.95 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $22.08 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $21.81 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $21.68 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $21.69 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $26.95 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $27.32 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $27.29 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $22.62 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $24.67 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $22.87 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $25.46 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $23.76 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $21.08 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $23.71 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $29.35 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $21.94 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $23.62 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $24.36 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $22.38 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $22.76 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $22.29 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $23.32 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $26.93 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $27.97 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $22.18 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $21.67 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $26.83 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $25.59 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $25.78 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $23.90 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $27.57 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $23.27 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $21.93 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $22.55 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $21.65 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $22.05 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $23.93 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $24.60 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $22.26 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $21.25 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $25.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $22.63 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $23.45 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $22.23 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $22.75 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $24.56 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $24.33 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $25.41 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $26.48 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $26.39 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $27.04 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $31.12 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $31.10 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $31.82 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $31.72 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $25.96 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $27.32 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $26.49 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $27.60 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $27.88 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $22.27 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $23.27 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $23.31 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $24.75 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $21.79 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $22.58 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $29.32 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $23.21 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $23.90 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $23.22 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $25.19 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $21.68 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $22.51 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $23.54 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $25.19 | Unavailable |
72020 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.
$20.89
$28.51
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 | $27.24 | 1 |
| AL | $21.21 | 1 |
| AR | $20.89 | 1 |
| AZ | $23.07 | 1 |
| CA | $25.19–$31.82 | 29 |
| CO | $24.77 | 1 |
| CT | $25.32 | 1 |
| DC | $27.23 | 1 |
| DE | $23.46 | 1 |
| FL | $23.27–$25.46 | 3 |
| GA | $21.93–$24.15 | 2 |
| GU | $25.86 | 1 |
| HI | $25.86 | 1 |
| IA | $21.81 | 1 |
| ID | $21.95 | 1 |
| IL | $22.55–$24.75 | 4 |
| IN | $22.08 | 1 |
| KS | $21.68 | 1 |
| KY | $21.69 | 1 |
| LA | $21.65–$22.76 | 2 |
| MA | $24.60–$27.29 | 2 |
| MD | $23.93–$27.23 | 3 |
| ME | $22.05–$23.31 | 2 |
| MI | $22.26–$23.55 | 2 |
| MN | $23.76 | 1 |
| MO | $21.25–$22.87 | 3 |
| MS | $21.08 | 1 |
| MT | $23.71 | 1 |
| NC | $22.29 | 1 |
| ND | $23.32 | 1 |
| NE | $21.94 | 1 |
| NH | $24.36 | 1 |
| NJ | $25.62–$26.93 | 2 |
| NM | $22.38 | 1 |
| NV | $23.62 | 1 |
| NY | $22.63–$27.97 | 5 |
| OH | $22.18 | 1 |
| OK | $21.67 | 1 |
| OR | $23.45–$25.59 | 2 |
| PA | $22.23–$24.67 | 2 |
| PR | $23.90 | 1 |
| RI | $24.33 | 1 |
| SC | $22.27 | 1 |
| SD | $23.27 | 1 |
| TN | $21.79 | 1 |
| TX | $22.07–$24.68 | 8 |
| UT | $22.58 | 1 |
| VA | $23.22–$27.23 | 2 |
| VI | $23.90 | 1 |
| VT | $23.21 | 1 |
| WA | $24.56–$27.88 | 2 |
| WI | $22.51 | 1 |
| WV | $21.68 | 1 |
| WY | $23.54 | 1 |
How the 72020 rate is calculated
Each of 72020’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 · 72020
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.16Practice expense 0.53Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72020
The CMS indicators that decide how 72020 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72020
Spine 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
72020 without 26 · national office
$23.71
Spine X-ray
72020-26 · Professional component
$7.68
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72020 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
72020 vs 72040 vs 72070 vs 72081: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 72040Cervical spine X-ray
- 72040 is for a cervical spine study with two or three views. Use 72020 for a single-view spine study rather than a multiview cervical examination.
- 72070Thoracic spine X-ray
- 72070 describes a two-view thoracic spine study. The one-view count distinguishes 72020.
- 72081Spine X-ray
- 72081 is specifically for a single-view examination of the entire spine. Use 72020 when the study is a single spine view but is not documented as covering the entire spine.
72020 billing questions
When should 72020 be chosen instead of a multiview spine code?
Use 72020 when the documented spine examination consists of one view. Choose the applicable regional or entire-spine code when the study has more views or covers the entire spine.
Can this code describe a single image used to localize a spinal level?
Yes, a single-view image may be used for spinal-level localization. The documentation should identify the level or region and the reason for imaging.
How are the professional and technical services reported?
Report modifier 26 for the interpretation and modifier TC for the equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What should the imaging record include?
Document the spinal level or region, that one view was obtained, the clinical indication, and the interpretation. These details support the single-view code selection.
Is 72020 appropriate for a single view of the entire spine?
For a single view of the entire spine, compare 72081, which specifically describes an entire-spine examination. Use 72020 for a single-view spine examination that is not documented as an entire-spine study.
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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