$29.12–$44.86
72070 represents a thoracic spine study with two views. Use 72074 when four or more thoracic views were obtained.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
72074 Thoracic spine X-ray Medicare reimbursement rates
Reports a thoracic spine X-ray with at least four views, commonly obtained to assess thoracic back pain, deformity, or suspected vertebral injury. Compare 72074 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 72074?
The service location and office or facility setting determine which base rate applies. These are the supported base rates for the 109 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$38.77–$60.31
109 of 109 localities have a supported rate.
Lowest: Arkansas
Highest: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
A spread of $21.54 per service.
Facility setting
No supported rate
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Where 72074 pays more and less
109 payment localities
$38.77 to $60.31
Diagnostic radiology
About 72074: Thoracic spine X-ray, four or more views
Reports a thoracic spine X-ray with at least four views, commonly obtained to assess thoracic back pain, deformity, or suspected vertebral injury.
This examination uses multiple X-ray projections to evaluate the thoracic vertebrae, alignment, and related bony structures. It may be ordered for thoracic back pain, suspected compression fracture, or a spinal deformity such as kyphosis. A radiologic technologist acquires the images in an office or outpatient imaging department; a physician, commonly a radiologist, interprets them and documents the findings.
Report 72074 when the documented study covers the thoracic spine and includes four or more views. The order, image record, and report should support the body region examined, the views obtained, and the clinical reason for imaging. CMS recognizes a professional component for interpretation and a technical component for equipment and staff: report modifier 26 for the professional service, modifier TC for the technical service, or neither modifier when billing the global service.
CMS billing rules for 72074
- Professional and technical components
- Diagnostic test with a professional component (modifier 26, interpretation) and a technical component (modifier TC, equipment and staff); billing without a modifier is the global service.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.24 · 18%
- Practice expense (office) RVU1.06 · 80%
- Malpractice RVU0.02 · 2%
11.3K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1411 by national volume
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.
72074 compared with similar codes
Office rate ranges across all CMS payment localities, from the same CMS release.
$34.09–$52.83
72072 is for three thoracic views; 72074 requires four or more views.
$30.84–$47.75
72080 describes imaging of the thoracolumbar region. Use 72074 when the documented study is limited to the thoracic spine.
$69.83–$110.43
72083 is for an entire-spine examination with four or five views, not a thoracic-only study.
See how rates vary across the country
72074 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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.
$38.77
$53.81
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $50.10 | 1 |
| AL | $39.37 | 1 |
| AR | $38.77 | 1 |
| AZ | $42.90 | 1 |
| CA | $47.31–$60.31 | 29 |
| CO | $46.31 | 1 |
| CT | $47.12 | 1 |
| DC | $50.90 | 1 |
| DE | $43.64 | 1 |
| FL | $42.87–$46.56 | 3 |
| GA | $40.39–$44.81 | 2 |
| GU | $48.66 | 1 |
| HI | $48.66 | 1 |
| IA | $40.68 | 1 |
| ID | $40.90 | 1 |
| IL | $41.39–$45.62 | 4 |
| IN | $41.16 | 1 |
| KS | $40.36 | 1 |
| KY | $40.10 | 1 |
| LA | $39.99–$42.09 | 2 |
| MA | $45.96–$51.21 | 2 |
| MD | $44.54–$50.90 | 3 |
| ME | $41.00–$43.52 | 2 |
| MI | $41.10–$43.31 | 2 |
| MN | $44.65 | 1 |
| MO | $39.19–$42.39 | 3 |
| MS | $38.99 | 1 |
| MT | $44.09 | 1 |
| NC | $41.48 | 1 |
| ND | $43.69 | 1 |
| NE | $40.95 | 1 |
| NH | $45.46 | 1 |
| NJ | $47.73–$50.30 | 2 |
| NM | $41.28 | 1 |
| NV | $44.01 | 1 |
| NY | $42.12–$51.87 | 5 |
| OH | $41.01 | 1 |
| OK | $40.15 | 1 |
| OR | $43.75–$47.98 | 2 |
| PA | $41.15–$45.81 | 2 |
| PR | $44.47 | 1 |
| RI | $45.34 | 1 |
| SC | $41.30 | 1 |
| SD | $43.65 | 1 |
| TN | $40.56 | 1 |
| TX | $40.86–$46.08 | 8 |
| UT | $41.90 | 1 |
| VA | $43.29–$50.90 | 2 |
| VI | $44.47 | 1 |
| VT | $43.41 | 1 |
| WA | $45.91–$52.40 | 2 |
| WI | $42.14 | 1 |
| WV | $39.74 | 1 |
| WY | $43.92 | 1 |
Compare 72074 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Office $39.37 | Facility Unavailable |
| Alaska* | Office $50.10 | Facility Unavailable |
| Arizona | Office $42.90 | Facility Unavailable |
| Arkansas | Office $38.77 | Facility Unavailable |
| Atlanta | Office $44.81 | Facility Unavailable |
| Austin | Office $46.08 | Facility Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | Office $47.38 | Facility Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | Office $46.96 | Facility Unavailable |
| Beaumont | Office $40.86 | Facility Unavailable |
| Brazoria | Office $43.69 | Facility Unavailable |
| Chicago | Office $45.19 | Facility Unavailable |
| Chico | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Colorado | Office $46.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Connecticut | Office $47.12 | Facility Unavailable |
| Dallas | Office $43.92 | Facility Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | Office $50.90 | Facility Unavailable |
| Delaware | Office $43.64 | Facility Unavailable |
| Detroit | Office $43.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | Office $41.93 | Facility Unavailable |
| El Centro | Office $47.32 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | Office $45.09 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | Office $43.58 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fresno | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Galveston | Office $43.79 | Facility Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | Office $48.66 | Facility Unavailable |
| Houston | Office $44.16 | Facility Unavailable |
| Idaho | Office $40.90 | Facility Unavailable |
| Indiana | Office $41.16 | Facility Unavailable |
| Iowa | Office $40.68 | Facility Unavailable |
| Kansas | Office $40.36 | Facility Unavailable |
| Kentucky | Office $40.10 | Facility Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | Office $50.67 | Facility Unavailable |
| Madera | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Manhattan | Office $50.73 | Facility Unavailable |
| Merced | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | Office $51.21 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | Office $41.91 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | Office $45.81 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | Office $42.39 | Facility Unavailable |
| Miami | Office $46.56 | Facility Unavailable |
| Minnesota | Office $44.65 | Facility Unavailable |
| Mississippi | Office $38.99 | Facility Unavailable |
| Modesto | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Montana** | Office $44.09 | Facility Unavailable |
| Napa | Office $55.52 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nebraska | Office $40.95 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nevada** | Office $44.01 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | Office $45.46 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Mexico | Office $41.28 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Orleans | Office $42.09 | Facility Unavailable |
| North Carolina | Office $41.48 | Facility Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | Office $43.69 | Facility Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | Office $50.30 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | Office $51.87 | Facility Unavailable |
| Ohio | Office $41.01 | Facility Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | Office $40.15 | Facility Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | Office $50.51 | Facility Unavailable |
| Portland | Office $47.98 | Facility Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | Office $47.95 | Facility Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | Office $44.47 | Facility Unavailable |
| Queens | Office $51.34 | Facility Unavailable |
| Redding | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | Office $42.87 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | Office $40.39 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | Office $41.39 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | Office $39.99 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | Office $41.00 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | Office $44.54 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | Office $45.96 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | Office $41.10 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | Office $39.19 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | Office $47.73 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | Office $42.12 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | Office $43.75 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | Office $41.15 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | Office $42.22 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | Office $45.91 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | Office $45.34 | Facility Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | Office $47.53 | Facility Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Office $49.84 | Facility Unavailable |
| Salinas | Office $49.66 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | Office $50.96 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | Office $59.01 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | Office $58.98 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | Office $60.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | Office $60.22 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | Office $48.84 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | Office $51.56 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | Office $49.88 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | Office $52.09 | Facility Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Office $52.40 | Facility Unavailable |
| South Carolina | Office $41.30 | Facility Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | Office $43.65 | Facility Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | Office $43.52 | Facility Unavailable |
| Stockton | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | Office $45.62 | Facility Unavailable |
| Tennessee | Office $40.56 | Facility Unavailable |
| Utah | Office $41.90 | Facility Unavailable |
| Vallejo | Office $55.49 | Facility Unavailable |
| Vermont | Office $43.41 | Facility Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | Office $44.47 | Facility Unavailable |
| Virginia | Office $43.29 | Facility Unavailable |
| Visalia | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
| West Virginia | Office $39.74 | Facility Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | Office $42.14 | Facility Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | Office $43.92 | Facility Unavailable |
| Yuba City | Office $47.31 | Facility Unavailable |
Need rates for a whole code list?
Fee-sheet and API access are in early access. Tell us which codes and locations your team needs.
72074 billing questions
How does 72074 differ from 72072?
72074 is for a thoracic spine study with four or more views; 72072 is for three views. Select the code that matches the views actually obtained and documented.
Do four views mean four vertebral levels?
No. The view count refers to imaging projections of the thoracic spine, not the number of vertebral levels examined.
Which modifiers identify the components?
Use modifier 26 for the physician interpretation or modifier TC for the technical service. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.
What documentation supports 72074?
The record should identify the thoracic spine as the imaged region, document at least four views, and include the clinical indication and interpretation.
Should 72074 be used for imaging that includes the thoracolumbar junction?
Choose based on the documented anatomic extent. A study of the thoracolumbar region may be represented by 72080 rather than a thoracic-only examination.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
7,95272072,,X-ray exam thorac spine 3vws,A,,0.22,0.92,,0.92,NA,0.02,1.16,1.16,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,3.24,3.24,0.05
7,95372072,26,X-ray exam thorac spine 3vws,A,,0.22,0.08,,0.08,,0.01,0.31,0.31,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,95472072,TC,X-ray exam thorac spine 3vws,A,,0.00,0.84,,0.84,NA,0.01,0.85,0.85,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,3.16,3.16,0.04
7,95572074,,X-ray exam thorac spine4/>vw,A,,0.24,1.06,,1.06,NA,0.02,1.32,1.32,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,3.25,3.25,0.04
7,95672074,26,X-ray exam thorac spine4/>vw,A,,0.24,0.09,,0.09,,0.01,0.34,0.34,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,95772074,TC,X-ray exam thorac spine4/>vw,A,,0.00,0.97,,0.97,NA,0.01,0.98,0.98,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,3.16,3.16,0.03
7,95872080,,X-ray exam thoracolmb 2/> vw,A,,0.20,0.83,,0.83,NA,0.02,1.05,1.05,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,2.72,2.72,0.05