Billing code 73040: Shoulder arthrographyMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $134.61 for 73040 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $117.66–$187.01.

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

What 73040 covers

This service covers X-ray imaging of the shoulder joint after contrast has been introduced into the joint, often with fluoroscopic guidance. A radiologist or other qualified imaging physician interprets the images; imaging staff operate the equipment and assist with image acquisition. It may be used to assess joint structures when a clinician requests an arthrogram, including evaluation for suspected internal derangement or contrast leakage related to a rotator cuff abnormality. The injection itself is represented separately when performed.

Report 73040 for the contrast imaging and its interpretation, supported by the imaging report and documentation identifying the shoulder examined and the clinical indication. billing code 23350 may be reported for the shoulder contrast injection when that service is performed. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and an unmodified claim represents the global service. When both shoulders are examined, CMS pays each side separately at 100%; the record should identify each side.

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 73040 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

73040 rates by state

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

How the 73040 rate is calculated

Each of 73040’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 73040

The CMS indicators that decide how 73040 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

73040 compared with similar codes

How to choose

73020Shoulder X-ray

73020 describes a single-view plain shoulder X-ray. Use 73040 for contrast imaging of the shoulder joint.

73030Shoulder X-ray

73030 describes multiple plain shoulder X-ray views. It does not represent contrast arthrography.

23350Shoulder injection

23350 represents injection of contrast into the shoulder joint for arthrography or enhanced imaging; 73040 represents the X-ray imaging and interpretation.

Codes related to 73040

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