Billing code 73580: Knee arthrographyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports radiographic imaging and interpretation of a contrast study of the knee joint, typically performed after contrast is introduced into the joint.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities12.7K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $117.24 for 73580 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $102.52–$160.20.

Medicare rate · 73580

Knee arthrography

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0.58
Total RVUs
3.51
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$117.24

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 73580 → · 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
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 73580 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 73580 covers

This service covers radiographic imaging and interpretation of a knee arthrogram: contrast is introduced into the joint, and images are obtained to assess its internal structures. A radiologist typically interprets the study; imaging staff acquire the images, and a physician may perform the joint injection. It is distinct from routine knee x-rays without intra-articular contrast and from an MRI arthrogram.

Report 73580 for the radiographic arthrogram service, supported by documentation identifying the knee, the contrast study, the images obtained, and the interpretation. The contrast injection is commonly reported separately with 27370. CMS prices the professional interpretation with modifier 26 and the equipment-and-staff service with modifier TC; billing without either modifier represents the global service. When both knees are examined, CMS pays each side separately at 100%.

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 73580 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

$102.52 to $160.20

$102.52$131.36$160.20
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

73580 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$104.18Unavailable
Alaska*$131.91Unavailable
Arizona$113.90Unavailable
Arkansas$102.52Unavailable
Atlanta$119.36Unavailable
Austin$122.49Unavailable
Bakersfield$125.70Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$125.13Unavailable
Beaumont$108.48Unavailable
Brazoria$115.95Unavailable

73580 rates by state

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

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$102.52

$142.83

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
73580 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$131.911
AL$104.181
AR$102.521
AZ$113.901
CA$125.47–$160.2029
CO$122.981
CT$125.521
DC$135.531
DE$115.921
FL$114.39–$125.233
GA$107.47–$119.362
GU$129.151
HI$129.151
IA$107.531
ID$108.211
IL$110.46–$122.014
IN$108.911
KS$106.771
KY$106.441
LA$106.18–$111.982
MA$122.05–$136.202
MD$118.35–$135.533
ME$108.61–$115.392
MI$109.30–$115.742
MN$118.121
MO$104.03–$112.673
MS$103.311
MT$117.231
NC$109.891
ND$115.651
NE$108.251
NH$120.811
NJ$127.03–$133.872
NM$109.871
NV$116.891
NY$111.68–$138.765
OH$108.981
OK$106.461
OR$116.06–$127.432
PA$109.28–$122.002
PR$118.241
RI$120.461
SC$109.601
SD$115.461
TN$107.341
TX$108.48–$122.498
UT$111.251
VA$114.83–$135.532
VI$118.241
VT$114.971
WA$121.90–$139.332
WI$111.391
WV$105.921
WY$116.541

How the 73580 rate is calculated

Each of 73580’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 · 73580

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.58Practice expense 2.85Malpractice 0.08

3.5100 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$117.24

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 73580

The CMS indicators that decide how 73580 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 73580

Knee arthrography

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)3Each side paid at 100% (no 150% cap).
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

73580 without 26 · national office

$117.24

Knee arthrography

73580-26 · Professional component

$31.73

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

73580 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

73580 vs 73560 vs 73562 vs 73564: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 73580
    Knee arthrography · 0.58 wRVU
    $117.24
  • 73560
    Knee X-ray · 0.16 wRVU
    $34.40−$82.84
  • 73562
    Knee X-ray · 0.18 wRVU
    $42.42−$74.82
  • 73564
    Knee X-ray · 0.21 wRVU
    $49.43−$67.81

How to choose

73560Knee X-ray
Use 73560 for routine noncontrast knee radiographs with one or two views, not a contrast arthrogram.
73562Knee X-ray
73562 describes routine noncontrast knee radiographs with three views; 73580 is for contrast arthrography.
73564Knee X-ray
73564 describes routine noncontrast knee radiographs with four or more views, while 73580 reports radiographic imaging and interpretation of a contrast study.

73580 billing questions

How does 73580 differ from routine knee x-rays?

73580 is for radiographic imaging and interpretation of a knee arthrogram using contrast introduced into the joint. Routine knee x-ray codes describe noncontrast examinations and are selected by the number of views.

Is the contrast injection included in 73580?

The injection is commonly reported separately with 27370. Keep documentation clear about the injection and the radiographic arthrogram service.

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, 73580 represents the global service.

How is bilateral knee arthrography paid?

CMS pays each side separately at 100% when both knees are examined. Document which knee was studied and report the services for each side.

What documentation supports 73580?

The record should identify the knee, document that the examination used intra-articular contrast, and support the radiographic imaging and interpretation. The report should reflect the arthrogram findings.

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
RVUs for 73580PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,225 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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