Billing code 73521: Hip X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports a two-view X-ray examination of both hips, commonly ordered to evaluate bilateral hip pain or suspected degenerative changes.
Medicare pays $41.75 for 73521 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $36.62–$57.27.
Medicare rate · 73521
Hip X-ray
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.21
- Total RVUs
- 1.25
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$41.75
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 73521 → · 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 73521 covers
This service is a plain-film examination of both hip joints, with a pelvic image included when obtained as part of the exam. It is commonly ordered for bilateral hip pain, suspected osteoarthritis, or assessment of the hip joints after injury. A radiologic technologist obtains the images in an outpatient imaging center or hospital department, and a physician or other qualified interpreting professional reviews them and reports the findings.
Select the code when the documented examination covers both hips and includes two views. The order, image record, and interpretation should support the bilateral scope and view count. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies 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 73521 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
$36.62 to $57.27
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37.20 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $47.17 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $40.60 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $36.62 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $42.45 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $43.66 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $44.89 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $44.51 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $38.64 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $41.35 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $42.84 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $43.87 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $44.65 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $41.58 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $48.27 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $41.31 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $41.02 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $39.70 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $42.73 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $41.25 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $41.45 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $46.14 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $41.82 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $38.67 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $38.92 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $38.45 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $38.15 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $37.91 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $48.05 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $48.11 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $48.57 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $39.66 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $43.40 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $40.12 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $44.17 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $42.27 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $36.84 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $41.75 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $52.70 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $38.71 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $41.67 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $43.06 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $39.06 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $39.83 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $39.23 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $41.35 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $47.69 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $49.21 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $38.79 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $37.96 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $47.90 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $45.47 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $45.44 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $42.12 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $48.70 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $40.59 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $38.20 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $39.16 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $37.81 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $38.77 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $42.18 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $43.53 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $38.87 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $37.03 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $45.23 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $39.85 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $41.42 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $38.92 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $39.95 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $43.49 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $42.94 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $45.05 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $47.25 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $47.08 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $48.33 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $56.02 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $56.00 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $57.27 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $57.18 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $46.30 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $48.91 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $47.29 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $49.42 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $49.71 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $39.06 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $41.31 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $41.20 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $43.24 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $38.34 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $39.64 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $52.67 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $41.08 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $42.12 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $40.98 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $44.83 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $37.58 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $39.86 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $41.58 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $44.83 | Unavailable |
73521 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.
$36.62
$51.05
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 | $47.17 | 1 |
| AL | $37.20 | 1 |
| AR | $36.62 | 1 |
| AZ | $40.60 | 1 |
| CA | $44.83–$57.27 | 29 |
| CO | $43.87 | 1 |
| CT | $44.65 | 1 |
| DC | $48.27 | 1 |
| DE | $41.31 | 1 |
| FL | $40.59–$44.17 | 3 |
| GA | $38.20–$42.45 | 2 |
| GU | $46.14 | 1 |
| HI | $46.14 | 1 |
| IA | $38.45 | 1 |
| ID | $38.67 | 1 |
| IL | $39.16–$43.24 | 4 |
| IN | $38.92 | 1 |
| KS | $38.15 | 1 |
| KY | $37.91 | 1 |
| LA | $37.81–$39.83 | 2 |
| MA | $43.53–$48.57 | 2 |
| MD | $42.18–$48.27 | 3 |
| ME | $38.77–$41.20 | 2 |
| MI | $38.87–$41.02 | 2 |
| MN | $42.27 | 1 |
| MO | $37.03–$40.12 | 3 |
| MS | $36.84 | 1 |
| MT | $41.75 | 1 |
| NC | $39.23 | 1 |
| ND | $41.35 | 1 |
| NE | $38.71 | 1 |
| NH | $43.06 | 1 |
| NJ | $45.23–$47.69 | 2 |
| NM | $39.06 | 1 |
| NV | $41.67 | 1 |
| NY | $39.85–$49.21 | 5 |
| OH | $38.79 | 1 |
| OK | $37.96 | 1 |
| OR | $41.42–$45.47 | 2 |
| PA | $38.92–$43.40 | 2 |
| PR | $42.12 | 1 |
| RI | $42.94 | 1 |
| SC | $39.06 | 1 |
| SD | $41.31 | 1 |
| TN | $38.34 | 1 |
| TX | $38.64–$43.66 | 8 |
| UT | $39.64 | 1 |
| VA | $40.98–$48.27 | 2 |
| VI | $42.12 | 1 |
| VT | $41.08 | 1 |
| WA | $43.49–$49.71 | 2 |
| WI | $39.86 | 1 |
| WV | $37.58 | 1 |
| WY | $41.58 | 1 |
How the 73521 rate is calculated
Each of 73521’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 · 73521
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.21Practice expense 1.02Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 73521
The CMS indicators that decide how 73521 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 73521
Hip 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
73521 without 26 · national office
$41.75
Hip X-ray
73521-26 · Professional component
$10.69
Pays only the interpretation and report.
73521 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
73521 vs 73502 vs 73522 vs 73523 vs 73525: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 73502Hip X-ray
- 73502 covers one hip with two or three views; 73521 covers both hips with two views.
- 73522Hip X-ray
- Both codes describe bilateral hip imaging. Choose 73521 for two views and 73522 for three or four.
- 73523Hip X-ray
- 73523 is for a bilateral examination with five or more views; 73521 is for two views.
- 73525Hip arthrography
- 73525 describes contrast imaging of the hip, unlike the standard bilateral hip radiographs reported with 73521.
73521 billing questions
How does this differ from 73502?
73521 describes a two-view examination of both hips. Code 73502 is for a unilateral hip examination with two or three views.
When should 73522 be selected instead?
Use 73522 when the bilateral hip examination includes three or four views rather than two.
Can the professional and technical services be reported separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Does an image of the pelvis change the code selection?
The examination may include a pelvic image when performed. Select the code based on the documented bilateral hip exam and its view count.
Should the code be reported once for each hip?
The code describes an examination of both hips, not a separate unilateral service for each side. The record should support that both hips were examined.
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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