Billing code 72220: Sacrum X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs
A targeted radiographic study of the sacrum and coccyx, reported when these bones require imaging for localized pain, trauma, or suspected abnormality.
Medicare pays $32.06 for 72220 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $28.11–$43.75.
Medicare rate · 72220
Sacrum X-ray
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.17
- Total RVUs
- 0.96
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$32.06
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 72220 → · 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 72220 covers
This examination produces radiographic images focused on the sacrum and coccyx, with at least two views. It is commonly ordered for localized tailbone pain, injury, or concern about an abnormality in these bones. A radiologic technologist typically obtains the images in an outpatient imaging department, hospital, or office equipped for X-ray; a physician, often a radiologist, interprets them and documents the findings.
Report 72220 when the ordered study targets the sacrum and coccyx, rather than the sacroiliac joints or lumbar spine. The record should support the reason for imaging and identify the requested anatomy; the image set and interpretation report support the service performed. CMS recognizes separately priced 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 72220 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
$28.11 to $43.75
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28.56 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $36.28 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $31.17 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $28.11 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $32.63 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $33.49 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $34.38 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $34.19 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $29.70 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $31.73 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $33.10 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $33.63 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $34.30 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $31.92 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $37.02 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $31.72 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $31.62 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $30.68 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $32.94 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $31.67 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $31.82 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $35.31 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $32.18 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $29.66 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $29.84 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $29.48 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $29.26 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $29.15 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $36.78 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $36.99 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $37.21 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $30.48 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $33.35 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $30.83 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $34.14 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $32.34 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $28.32 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $32.06 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $40.27 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $29.67 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $31.98 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $33.04 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $30.06 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $30.64 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $30.10 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $31.67 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $36.58 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $37.86 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $29.83 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $29.16 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $36.65 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $34.84 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $34.90 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $32.34 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $37.40 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $31.27 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $29.42 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $30.20 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $29.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $29.75 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $32.38 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $33.38 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $29.91 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $28.50 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $34.72 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $30.58 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $31.76 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $29.92 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $30.69 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $33.34 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $32.95 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $34.54 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $36.15 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $36.02 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $36.97 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $42.79 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $42.76 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $43.75 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $43.65 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $35.43 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $37.40 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $36.18 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $37.79 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $38.06 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $30.01 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $31.62 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $31.59 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $33.31 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $29.42 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $30.45 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $40.24 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $31.48 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $32.34 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $31.43 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $34.32 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $28.98 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $30.52 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $31.89 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $34.32 | Unavailable |
72220 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.
$28.11
$39.04
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 | $36.28 | 1 |
| AL | $28.56 | 1 |
| AR | $28.11 | 1 |
| AZ | $31.17 | 1 |
| CA | $34.32–$43.75 | 29 |
| CO | $33.63 | 1 |
| CT | $34.30 | 1 |
| DC | $37.02 | 1 |
| DE | $31.72 | 1 |
| FL | $31.27–$34.14 | 3 |
| GA | $29.42–$32.63 | 2 |
| GU | $35.31 | 1 |
| HI | $35.31 | 1 |
| IA | $29.48 | 1 |
| ID | $29.66 | 1 |
| IL | $30.20–$33.31 | 4 |
| IN | $29.84 | 1 |
| KS | $29.26 | 1 |
| KY | $29.15 | 1 |
| LA | $29.08–$30.64 | 2 |
| MA | $33.38–$37.21 | 2 |
| MD | $32.38–$37.02 | 3 |
| ME | $29.75–$31.59 | 2 |
| MI | $29.91–$31.62 | 2 |
| MN | $32.34 | 1 |
| MO | $28.50–$30.83 | 3 |
| MS | $28.32 | 1 |
| MT | $32.06 | 1 |
| NC | $30.10 | 1 |
| ND | $31.67 | 1 |
| NE | $29.67 | 1 |
| NH | $33.04 | 1 |
| NJ | $34.72–$36.58 | 2 |
| NM | $30.06 | 1 |
| NV | $31.98 | 1 |
| NY | $30.58–$37.86 | 5 |
| OH | $29.83 | 1 |
| OK | $29.16 | 1 |
| OR | $31.76–$34.84 | 2 |
| PA | $29.92–$33.35 | 2 |
| PR | $32.34 | 1 |
| RI | $32.95 | 1 |
| SC | $30.01 | 1 |
| SD | $31.62 | 1 |
| TN | $29.42 | 1 |
| TX | $29.70–$33.49 | 8 |
| UT | $30.45 | 1 |
| VA | $31.43–$37.02 | 2 |
| VI | $32.34 | 1 |
| VT | $31.48 | 1 |
| WA | $33.34–$38.06 | 2 |
| WI | $30.52 | 1 |
| WV | $28.98 | 1 |
| WY | $31.89 | 1 |
How the 72220 rate is calculated
Each of 72220’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 · 72220
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.17Practice expense 0.77Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72220
The CMS indicators that decide how 72220 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72220
Sacrum 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
72220 without 26 · national office
$32.06
Sacrum X-ray
72220-26 · Professional component
$8.35
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72220 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
72220 vs 72200 vs 72202 vs 72100: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 72200SI joint X-ray
- 72200 is directed at the sacroiliac joints. Choose 72220 for imaging centered on the sacrum and coccyx.
- 72202SI joint X-ray
- 72202 describes a sacroiliac joint study with more views; it does not represent additional views of a sacrum and coccyx examination.
- 72100Lumbar spine X-ray
- 72100 is for lumbar spine imaging. Select 72220 when the order and images focus on the sacrum and coccyx.
72220 billing questions
When should 72220 be chosen instead of a sacroiliac joint X-ray?
Use 72220 when the examination targets the sacrum and coccyx. Sacroiliac joint studies are reported with 72200 or 72202, depending on the views.
Can the professional and technical portions be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 reports the physician's interpretation, and modifier TC reports the technical portion. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports this code?
The record should show the clinical reason for imaging and the sacrum and coccyx as the requested anatomy. The images and a physician's interpretation report support the service.
Does the code include both image acquisition and interpretation?
The global service includes both portions. When the portions are furnished and billed separately, use modifier 26 for interpretation or modifier TC for the technical service.
How is 72220 distinguished from a lumbar spine X-ray?
Choose 72220 for imaging centered on the sacrum and coccyx. Use a lumbar spine code when the study is directed at the lumbar vertebrae.
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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