Billing code 72295: Discography imagingMedicare rate & RVUs
Lumbar discography imaging interpretation is reported for fluoroscopic assessment of contrast injected into lumbar discs during evaluation of suspected discogenic pain.
Medicare pays $122.25 for 72295 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $108.25–$165.79.
Medicare rate · 72295
Discography imaging
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.81
- Total RVUs
- 3.66
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$122.25
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 72295 → · 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 72295 covers
This service covers the imaging supervision and physician interpretation of lumbar discography. During the study, contrast is injected into one or more lumbar intervertebral discs and imaging is used to assess disc appearance and the patient's response. Spine specialists or pain physicians commonly perform the injections in a fluoroscopy-equipped procedure suite; the physician interpreting the images documents the findings and their clinical significance.
Report 72295 for the radiological supervision and interpretation, separately from the lumbar discography injection service, commonly coded with 62290. The record should identify the lumbar levels studied, include the imaging and interpretation, and support why discography was performed, such as evaluation of suspected discogenic pain. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff, and reporting 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 72295 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
$108.25 to $165.79
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $109.83 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $141.10 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $119.11 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $108.25 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $124.16 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $127.54 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $131.09 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $129.90 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $113.71 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $121.25 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $125.07 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $128.19 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $130.34 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $121.88 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $140.54 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $121.09 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $120.12 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $116.46 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $130.92 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $124.81 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $120.97 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $121.52 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $134.36 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $122.44 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $113.89 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $114.56 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $113.29 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $112.44 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $111.72 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $139.91 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $140.11 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $141.32 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $116.50 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $126.89 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $117.76 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $128.64 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $123.78 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $108.81 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $122.24 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $152.87 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $114.01 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $122.06 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $125.87 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $114.82 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $116.96 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $115.38 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $121.26 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $139.03 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $143.09 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $114.12 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $111.87 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $139.40 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $132.63 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $132.70 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $123.25 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $141.74 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $118.97 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $112.47 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $115.05 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $111.42 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $114.13 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $123.50 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $127.30 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $114.33 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $109.30 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $132.10 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $117.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $121.38 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $114.49 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $117.32 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $127.16 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $125.67 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $131.47 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $137.69 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $137.18 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $140.62 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $162.26 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $162.20 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $165.79 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $165.55 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $134.93 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $142.15 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $137.75 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $143.61 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $144.52 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $114.89 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $121.14 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $120.79 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $126.25 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $112.96 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $116.47 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $152.79 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $120.49 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $123.25 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $120.17 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $130.91 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $110.72 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $117.16 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $121.81 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $130.91 | Unavailable |
72295 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.
$108.25
$148.35
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 | $141.10 | 1 |
| AL | $109.83 | 1 |
| AR | $108.25 | 1 |
| AZ | $119.11 | 1 |
| CA | $130.91–$165.79 | 29 |
| CO | $128.19 | 1 |
| CT | $130.34 | 1 |
| DC | $140.54 | 1 |
| DE | $121.09 | 1 |
| FL | $118.97–$128.64 | 3 |
| GA | $112.47–$124.16 | 2 |
| GU | $134.36 | 1 |
| HI | $134.36 | 1 |
| IA | $113.29 | 1 |
| ID | $113.89 | 1 |
| IL | $115.05–$126.25 | 4 |
| IN | $114.56 | 1 |
| KS | $112.44 | 1 |
| KY | $111.72 | 1 |
| LA | $111.42–$116.96 | 2 |
| MA | $127.30–$141.32 | 2 |
| MD | $123.50–$140.54 | 3 |
| ME | $114.13–$120.79 | 2 |
| MI | $114.33–$120.12 | 2 |
| MN | $123.78 | 1 |
| MO | $109.30–$117.76 | 3 |
| MS | $108.81 | 1 |
| MT | $122.24 | 1 |
| NC | $115.38 | 1 |
| ND | $121.26 | 1 |
| NE | $114.01 | 1 |
| NH | $125.87 | 1 |
| NJ | $132.10–$139.03 | 2 |
| NM | $114.82 | 1 |
| NV | $122.06 | 1 |
| NY | $117.08–$143.09 | 5 |
| OH | $114.12 | 1 |
| OK | $111.87 | 1 |
| OR | $121.38–$132.63 | 2 |
| PA | $114.49–$126.89 | 2 |
| PR | $123.25 | 1 |
| RI | $125.67 | 1 |
| SC | $114.89 | 1 |
| SD | $121.14 | 1 |
| TN | $112.96 | 1 |
| TX | $113.71–$127.54 | 8 |
| UT | $116.47 | 1 |
| VA | $120.17–$140.54 | 2 |
| VI | $123.25 | 1 |
| VT | $120.49 | 1 |
| WA | $127.16–$144.52 | 2 |
| WI | $117.16 | 1 |
| WV | $110.72 | 1 |
| WY | $121.81 | 1 |
How the 72295 rate is calculated
Each of 72295’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 · 72295
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.81Practice expense 2.80Malpractice 0.05
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72295
The CMS indicators that decide how 72295 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72295
Discography imaging
| 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
72295 without 26 · national office
$122.25
Discography imaging
72295-26 · Professional component
$40.42
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72295 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
72295 vs 72285 vs 62290 vs 72265: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 72285Discography
- Choose 72285 for discography imaging interpretation of cervical or thoracic discs; 72295 is for lumbar discs.
- 62290Discography
- 62290 represents the lumbar discography injection, while 72295 represents the associated imaging supervision and interpretation.
- 72265Myelography
- 72265 describes lumbar myelography, which evaluates the spinal canal after contrast is introduced into the thecal space; 72295 concerns contrast imaging of lumbar discs.
72295 billing questions
How is 72295 different from 72285?
72295 is for interpretation of lumbar discography. 72285 is used when discography evaluates cervical or thoracic discs.
Is the disc injection included in 72295?
No. 72295 covers imaging supervision and interpretation; the lumbar discography injection is separately represented by 62290.
When should modifier 26 or TC be used?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, 72295 represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 72295?
Document the lumbar levels examined, the imaging findings, and the physician's interpretation. The record should also support the clinical reason for performing discography.
Should 72295 be reported once for each disc injected?
The injection code 62290 accounts for lumbar discography injections by level. Do not treat 72295 as a per-level injection code; it represents the radiological supervision and interpretation.
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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