Billing code 72148: Lumbar spine MRIMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $191.72 for 72148 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $170.32–$257.47.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 72148 covers

This MRI evaluates the lumbar vertebrae, discs, spinal canal, conus and cauda equina, and neural foramina without administering contrast. It can assess persistent low back pain with radicular symptoms, suspected disc herniation or stenosis, and nerve root compression; it may also help with preoperative planning. Primary care, orthopedic, spine surgery, neurology, and pain management clinicians order the study. MRI technologists acquire the images in hospital outpatient departments, imaging centers, or physician offices, and a radiologist typically interprets them.

Report 72148 for a lumbar MRI acquired without contrast; when both noncontrast and post-contrast lumbar images are acquired, report 72158 instead of separate codes. The order, imaging protocol, contrast administration record, and signed interpretation should support the lumbar region and noncontrast technique. Modifier 26 identifies interpretation alone; modifier TC identifies equipment and staff services. Report the global service without either modifier when the same billing entity provides both portions. For multiple eligible diagnostic imaging studies furnished to the same patient on the same day, Medicare’s multiple procedure reduction affects both professional and technical components of the lower-valued 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 72148 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

72148 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 72148 rate is calculated

Each of 72148’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 72148

The CMS indicators that decide how 72148 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

72148 compared with similar codes

How to choose

72158Lumbar MRI

72158 covers lumbar MRI with both noncontrast and post-contrast images; 72148 covers a lumbar MRI performed without contrast.

72149MRI

72149 applies when only post-contrast lumbar MRI images are obtained; 72148 applies when the lumbar study is performed without contrast.

72131Lumbar CT

72131 is a CT of the lumbar spine without contrast; 72148 is magnetic resonance imaging of the same region.

72146Spine MRI

72146 covers noncontrast MRI of the thoracic spine; 72148 covers the lumbar region. If both regions are scanned without contrast, report both codes.

Codes related to 72148

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates