Billing code 78071: Parathyroid imagingMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports planar nuclear imaging of the parathyroid glands, with or without subtraction, to help localize abnormal gland tissue in patients with suspected hyperparathyroidism.
Medicare pays $309.63 for 78071 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $270.22–$430.18.
Medicare rate · 78071
Parathyroid imaging
- Work RVUs
- 1.17
- Total RVUs
- 9.27
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$309.63
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 78071 →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 78071 covers
This service uses radiotracer imaging to evaluate the parathyroid glands, commonly when laboratory findings suggest hyperparathyroidism and localization is needed before a possible operation. The study uses planar images and may use subtraction to help distinguish parathyroid activity from nearby thyroid tissue. Nuclear medicine technologists acquire the images; a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician interprets them, usually in an imaging department or hospital.
Report 78071 for the planar parathyroid study, whether subtraction is performed or not. The record should support the clinical indication and identify the imaging protocol and interpretation. When the study includes SPECT with CT, consider the distinct code 78072 rather than this planar service. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies 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 78071 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
$270.22 to $430.18
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $274.67 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $344.86 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $300.82 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $270.22 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $314.75 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $324.76 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $334.55 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $330.60 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $285.35 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $306.73 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $315.99 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $326.37 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $331.73 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $308.39 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $359.66 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $306.25 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $302.81 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $292.00 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $334.22 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $316.06 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $305.77 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $307.44 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $344.64 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $309.45 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $286.34 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $288.26 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $284.73 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $282.18 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $279.69 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $358.83 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $357.51 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $362.60 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $293.26 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $321.98 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $296.82 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $326.19 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $314.78 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $271.57 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $309.62 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $395.15 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $286.79 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $309.28 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $320.11 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $288.21 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $294.38 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $290.42 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $307.44 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $355.04 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $365.72 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $286.44 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $280.25 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $357.91 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $338.93 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $337.51 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $312.51 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $362.32 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $299.73 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $281.51 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $288.48 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $278.78 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $286.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $312.92 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $323.65 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $286.88 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $272.70 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $336.10 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $295.19 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $307.47 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $287.54 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $295.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $323.40 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $318.78 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $335.41 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $352.83 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $351.57 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $361.42 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $420.77 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $420.64 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $430.18 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $429.67 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $345.68 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $366.12 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $353.32 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $369.94 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $371.49 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $288.79 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $307.19 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $305.87 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $319.94 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $283.64 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $293.24 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $394.97 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $305.14 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $312.51 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $304.01 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $334.21 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $276.25 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $295.88 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $308.67 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $334.21 | Unavailable |
78071 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.
$270.22
$382.20
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 | $344.86 | 1 |
| AL | $274.67 | 1 |
| AR | $270.22 | 1 |
| AZ | $300.82 | 1 |
| CA | $334.21–$430.18 | 29 |
| CO | $326.37 | 1 |
| CT | $331.73 | 1 |
| DC | $359.66 | 1 |
| DE | $306.25 | 1 |
| FL | $299.73–$326.19 | 3 |
| GA | $281.51–$314.75 | 2 |
| GU | $344.64 | 1 |
| HI | $344.64 | 1 |
| IA | $284.73 | 1 |
| ID | $286.34 | 1 |
| IL | $288.48–$319.94 | 4 |
| IN | $288.26 | 1 |
| KS | $282.18 | 1 |
| KY | $279.69 | 1 |
| LA | $278.78–$294.38 | 2 |
| MA | $323.65–$362.60 | 2 |
| MD | $312.92–$359.66 | 3 |
| ME | $286.89–$305.87 | 2 |
| MI | $286.88–$302.81 | 2 |
| MN | $314.78 | 1 |
| MO | $272.70–$296.82 | 3 |
| MS | $271.57 | 1 |
| MT | $309.62 | 1 |
| NC | $290.42 | 1 |
| ND | $307.44 | 1 |
| NE | $286.79 | 1 |
| NH | $320.11 | 1 |
| NJ | $336.10–$355.04 | 2 |
| NM | $288.21 | 1 |
| NV | $309.28 | 1 |
| NY | $295.19–$365.72 | 5 |
| OH | $286.44 | 1 |
| OK | $280.25 | 1 |
| OR | $307.47–$338.93 | 2 |
| PA | $287.54–$321.98 | 2 |
| PR | $312.51 | 1 |
| RI | $318.78 | 1 |
| SC | $288.79 | 1 |
| SD | $307.19 | 1 |
| TN | $283.64 | 1 |
| TX | $285.35–$324.76 | 8 |
| UT | $293.24 | 1 |
| VA | $304.01–$359.66 | 2 |
| VI | $312.51 | 1 |
| VT | $305.14 | 1 |
| WA | $323.40–$371.49 | 2 |
| WI | $295.88 | 1 |
| WV | $276.25 | 1 |
| WY | $308.67 | 1 |
How the 78071 rate is calculated
Each of 78071’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 · 78071
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.17
1.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.99
7.99 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.11
0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
9.2700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$309.63
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78071
The CMS indicators that decide how 78071 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78071
Parathyroid imaging
| 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
78071 without 26 · national office
$309.63
Parathyroid imaging
78071-26 · Professional component
$54.11
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78071 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 78070Parathyroid imaging
- Both are in the parathyroid imaging family. For 78071, the descriptor specifically covers planar imaging with or without subtraction; verify the documented service against the applicable descriptor for 78070.
- 78072Parathyroid imaging
- 78072 describes parathyroid imaging that includes SPECT with CT. Report 78071 for the planar study with or without subtraction.
- 78099Unlisted endocrine px dx nuc
- 78099 is an unlisted endocrine nuclear medicine diagnostic code. Use 78071 when the service is the specified planar parathyroid study.
78071 billing questions
How does 78071 differ from 78070?
78071 specifically describes planar parathyroid imaging with or without subtraction. Check the documented procedure and applicable code descriptors when distinguishing it from 78070.
When should 78072 be reported instead?
Use 78072 when the parathyroid study includes SPECT with CT. A planar study with or without subtraction is described by 78071.
Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 reports the professional interpretation, and modifier TC reports the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports 78071?
Document the clinical reason for evaluating the parathyroid glands, the planar imaging protocol, whether subtraction was performed, and the interpreting physician's 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
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