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Billing code 73615: Ankle arthrographyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports radiographic supervision and interpretation of ankle arthrography after contrast is placed in the joint to assess intra-articular structures.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities277 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $132.94 for 73615 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $116.11–$184.30.

Medicare rate · 73615

Ankle arthrography

Work RVUs
0.53
Total RVUs
3.98
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$132.94

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 73615 →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 73615 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 73615 covers

billing code 73615 represents the radiographic imaging and interpretation portion of an ankle arthrogram, in which contrast within the joint is visualized to evaluate intra-articular structures. A radiologist commonly supervises the imaging and interprets the resulting images; the study may be performed in an outpatient imaging department or hospital. The code is for the radiologic service, not the contrast injection itself.

Select 73615 for ankle arthrography rather than routine ankle films. The record should identify the ankle, document the arthrographic imaging performed, and include the interpretation. The injection procedure is represented by 27648 when performed. Report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation, TC for the technical service, or neither for the global service. For bilateral studies, each side is paid 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 73615 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

$116.11 to $184.30

$116.11$150.21$184.30
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

73615 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$118.02Unavailable
Alaska*$148.42Unavailable
Arizona$129.17Unavailable
Arkansas$116.11Unavailable
Atlanta$135.14Unavailable
Austin$139.37Unavailable
Bakersfield$143.52Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$141.90Unavailable
Beaumont$122.60Unavailable
Brazoria$131.69Unavailable

73615 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$116.11

$163.83

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

View every state and territory as a table
73615 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$148.421
AL$118.021
AR$116.111
AZ$129.171
CA$143.36–$184.3029
CO$140.051
CT$142.381
DC$154.291
DE$131.491
FL$128.78–$140.153
GA$120.99–$135.142
GU$147.791
HI$147.791
IA$122.281
ID$122.971
IL$124.00–$137.414
IN$123.791
KS$121.211
KY$120.191
LA$119.81–$126.462
MA$138.90–$155.512
MD$134.34–$154.293
ME$123.22–$131.302
MI$123.27–$130.112
MN$135.051
MO$117.22–$127.493
MS$116.711
MT$132.931
NC$124.721
ND$131.941
NE$123.151
NH$137.381
NJ$144.25–$152.332
NM$123.851
NV$132.771
NY$126.76–$156.965
OH$123.071
OK$120.411
OR$131.99–$145.402
PA$123.53–$138.232
PR$134.161
RI$136.841
SC$124.051
SD$131.831
TN$121.831
TX$122.60–$139.378
UT$125.951
VA$130.51–$154.292
VI$134.161
VT$130.971
WA$138.79–$159.292
WI$127.011
WV$118.781
WY$132.501

How the 73615 rate is calculated

Each of 73615’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 · 73615

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work0.53

0.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.40

3.40 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.05

0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

3.9800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$132.94

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 73615

The CMS indicators that decide how 73615 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 73615

Ankle 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

73615 without 26 · national office

$132.94

Ankle arthrography

73615-26 · Professional component

$28.06

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

73615 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

  • 73615

    Ankle arthrography0.53 wRVU

    $132.94

  • 73600

    Ankle X-ray0.16 wRVU

    $32.40−$100.54

  • 73610

    Ankle X-ray0.17 wRVU

    $37.07−$95.87

  • 27648

    Arthrogram injection0.94 wRVU

    $206.75+$73.81

  • 73722

    Joint MRI1.58 wRVU

    $314.97+$182.03

How to choose

73600Ankle X-ray
73600 is for limited routine ankle radiographs. Choose 73615 when the ankle is imaged as an arthrogram with contrast in the joint.
73610Ankle X-ray
73610 describes routine ankle radiographs, not arthrographic imaging. The presence of contrast within the ankle joint and the associated interpretation distinguish 73615.
27648Arthrogram injection
27648 represents the ankle arthrography injection procedure; 73615 represents the radiographic imaging and interpretation portion.
73722Joint MRI
73722 is MRI of a lower-extremity joint with contrast. Use 73615 for radiographic ankle arthrography, not the MRI examination.

Codes related to 73615

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 73615
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Often billed with
27648Arthrogram injectionRepresents the ankle arthrography injection procedure when performed with the imaging service.$180.42–$283.48
Used instead
73600Ankle X-rayReports a limited routine ankle radiographic examination rather than arthrographic imaging.$28.35–$44.34
73610Ankle X-rayReports a routine ankle radiographic examination rather than imaging of intra-articular contrast.$32.42–$50.97
73722Joint MRIReports MRI of a lower-extremity joint with contrast, a different imaging method.$276.74–$433.34

73615 billing questions

How is 73615 different from a routine ankle x-ray?

73615 is for radiographic imaging and interpretation of contrast within the ankle joint as an arthrogram. Routine ankle radiographs are reported with codes such as 73600 or 73610, depending on the study.

Is the contrast injection included in 73615?

73615 represents the radiologic imaging service. Report 27648 for the ankle arthrography injection procedure when performed.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and TC for the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

How should bilateral ankle arthrography be reported?

Report the service for each ankle and document the side examined. CMS pays each side separately at 100% when the study is bilateral.

What documentation supports 73615?

Document the ankle studied, the arthrographic imaging performed, and the interpretation. The record should distinguish this contrast study from routine ankle radiographs.

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 73615PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,240 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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