Billing code 77048: Breast MRIMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $334.01 for 77048 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $294.84–$454.37.

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

What 77048 covers

This service uses magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate one breast with images acquired before and after contrast administration. A radiologic technologist performs the scan, and a radiologist interprets the images. Common diagnostic situations include assessing the extent of a known breast cancer or investigating a concerning finding that needs further evaluation. Computer-aided detection is included when performed. For imaging both breasts with and without contrast, the bilateral code is used instead.

Report 77048 for one breast, not as a unilateral substitute when the documented examination covers both breasts. The order and imaging report should support the clinical reason for the MRI, the side examined, and the use of pre- and post-contrast imaging. The global service is reported without a component modifier; modifier 26 represents the interpretation, while modifier TC represents the equipment and staff. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction to both the professional and technical components when it applies.

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 77048 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

77048 rates by state

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

How the 77048 rate is calculated

Each of 77048’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 77048

The CMS indicators that decide how 77048 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

77048 compared with similar codes

How to choose

77049Breast MRI

77049 is for MRI of both breasts with and without contrast; 77048 covers one breast.

77046Breast MRI

77046 covers one breast but uses imaging without contrast. Choose 77048 when the examination includes both pre-contrast and post-contrast imaging.

77047Breast MRI

77047 is bilateral breast MRI without contrast. It differs from 77048 in both laterality and contrast protocol.

Codes related to 77048

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