Billing code 72265: MyelographyMedicare rate & RVUs
Radiologic supervision and interpretation of a lumbar or lumbosacral myelogram, used to evaluate the spinal canal and nerve-root anatomy.
Medicare pays $110.22 for 72265 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $97.81–$148.14.
Medicare rate · 72265
Myelography
- Work RVUs
- 0.81
- Total RVUs
- 3.30
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$110.22
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 72265 →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 72265 covers
A lumbar or lumbosacral myelogram uses contrast introduced into the spinal canal, followed by radiographic imaging to show the canal and nearby nerve roots. A radiologist typically supervises the imaging and interprets the resulting study. It may help assess anatomy when evaluating suspected narrowing, nerve-root involvement, or changes after prior spine surgery, including when additional detail is needed beyond other imaging.
Report 72265 for the myelographic study of the lumbar or lumbosacral region, rather than for the contrast injection alone. Documentation should identify the region examined and include the myelographic images and interpretation. The contrast injection may be reported separately with 62284 when performed. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 reports the interpretation, modifier TC reports the 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 72265 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
$97.81 to $148.14
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $99.21 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $128.13 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $107.42 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $97.81 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $112.01 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $114.76 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $117.75 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $117.06 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $102.78 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $109.27 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $113.41 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $115.30 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $117.43 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $109.86 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $126.36 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $109.18 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $108.76 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $105.76 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $117.55 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $112.90 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $109.07 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $109.53 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $120.50 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $110.62 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $102.67 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $103.27 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $102.12 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $101.44 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $101.04 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $125.51 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $126.28 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $126.86 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $105.23 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $114.42 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $106.33 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $116.61 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $111.17 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $98.42 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $110.22 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $136.75 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $102.73 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $109.97 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $113.30 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $103.89 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $105.71 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $104.06 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $109.03 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $125.05 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $129.01 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $103.18 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $101.09 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $125.00 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $119.15 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $119.57 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $111.09 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $127.61 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $107.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $101.84 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $104.29 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $100.80 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $102.97 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $111.30 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $114.55 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $103.42 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $98.97 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $118.97 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $105.57 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $109.30 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $103.46 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $105.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $114.40 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $113.20 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $118.21 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $123.50 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $123.04 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $126.02 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $144.99 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $144.92 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $148.14 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $147.87 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $121.03 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $127.31 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $123.52 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $128.61 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $129.63 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $103.75 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $108.89 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $108.75 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $114.15 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $101.91 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $105.15 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $136.65 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $108.42 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $111.09 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $108.25 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $117.54 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $100.45 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $105.43 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $109.70 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $117.54 | Unavailable |
72265 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.
$97.81
$132.84
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 | $128.13 | 1 |
| AL | $99.21 | 1 |
| AR | $97.81 | 1 |
| AZ | $107.42 | 1 |
| CA | $117.54–$148.14 | 29 |
| CO | $115.30 | 1 |
| CT | $117.43 | 1 |
| DC | $126.36 | 1 |
| DE | $109.18 | 1 |
| FL | $107.66–$116.61 | 3 |
| GA | $101.84–$112.01 | 2 |
| GU | $120.50 | 1 |
| HI | $120.50 | 1 |
| IA | $102.12 | 1 |
| ID | $102.67 | 1 |
| IL | $104.29–$114.15 | 4 |
| IN | $103.27 | 1 |
| KS | $101.44 | 1 |
| KY | $101.04 | 1 |
| LA | $100.80–$105.71 | 2 |
| MA | $114.55–$126.86 | 2 |
| MD | $111.30–$126.36 | 3 |
| ME | $102.97–$108.75 | 2 |
| MI | $103.42–$108.76 | 2 |
| MN | $111.17 | 1 |
| MO | $98.97–$106.33 | 3 |
| MS | $98.42 | 1 |
| MT | $110.22 | 1 |
| NC | $104.06 | 1 |
| ND | $109.03 | 1 |
| NE | $102.73 | 1 |
| NH | $113.30 | 1 |
| NJ | $118.97–$125.05 | 2 |
| NM | $103.89 | 1 |
| NV | $109.97 | 1 |
| NY | $105.57–$129.01 | 5 |
| OH | $103.18 | 1 |
| OK | $101.09 | 1 |
| OR | $109.30–$119.15 | 2 |
| PA | $103.46–$114.42 | 2 |
| PR | $111.09 | 1 |
| RI | $113.20 | 1 |
| SC | $103.75 | 1 |
| SD | $108.89 | 1 |
| TN | $101.91 | 1 |
| TX | $102.78–$114.76 | 8 |
| UT | $105.15 | 1 |
| VA | $108.25–$126.36 | 2 |
| VI | $111.09 | 1 |
| VT | $108.42 | 1 |
| WA | $114.40–$129.63 | 2 |
| WI | $105.43 | 1 |
| WV | $100.45 | 1 |
| WY | $109.70 | 1 |
How the 72265 rate is calculated
Each of 72265’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 · 72265
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.81
0.81 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.43
2.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.06
0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.3000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$110.22
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72265
The CMS indicators that decide how 72265 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72265
Myelography
| 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
72265 without 26 · national office
$110.22
Myelography
72265-26 · Professional component
$40.08
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72265 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 72240Myelography
- This code is for a cervical myelogram; 72265 is for the lumbar or lumbosacral region.
- 72255Myelography
- This code is for a thoracic myelogram; 72265 is for the lumbar or lumbosacral region.
- 72270Myelography
- Use 72270 when the myelographic examination covers two or more spinal regions. Use 72265 for the lumbar or lumbosacral region alone.
- 62284Myelogram injection
- 62284 reports the spinal contrast injection for myelography or CT; 72265 reports the lumbar or lumbosacral myelographic imaging service.
72265 billing questions
When should 72265 be used instead of 72270?
Use 72265 for a lumbar or lumbosacral myelogram. Use 72270 when the myelographic examination covers two or more spinal regions.
Does 72265 include the contrast injection?
The code represents the lumbar or lumbosacral myelographic imaging service, not the injection alone. When performed, the spinal contrast injection may be reported separately with 62284.
Which modifier reports only the interpretation?
Append modifier 26 for the professional interpretation. Modifier TC reports the technical service, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.
How does 72265 differ from 62284?
72265 covers the radiologic myelogram service for the lumbar or lumbosacral region. Code 62284 represents the spinal contrast injection used for myelography or CT.
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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