Billing code 78700: Kidney imagingMedicare rate & RVUs
Static renal scintigraphy depicts kidney anatomy and cortical pattern when the clinical question concerns morphology rather than perfusion or function.
Medicare pays $153.31 for 78700 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $133.08–$214.38.
Medicare rate · 78700
Kidney imaging
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.44
- Total RVUs
- 4.59
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$153.31
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 78700 → · 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 78700 covers
This nuclear medicine study produces images of the kidneys’ location, size, contour, and cortical pattern after administration of a radiopharmaceutical. It may be used when evaluation centers on renal anatomy or suspected cortical abnormalities, such as scarring. A nuclear medicine technologist typically acquires the images in an imaging department, and a physician interprets the study.
Choose 78700 when the performed study evaluates renal morphology, rather than renal blood flow or function. The record should support the clinical reason for imaging, the study performed, and the physician’s interpretation. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: the interpreting physician may report modifier 26, the equipment-and-staff portion may be reported with modifier TC, 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 78700 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
$133.08 to $214.38
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $135.36 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $168.64 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $148.79 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $133.08 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $155.94 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $161.03 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $165.92 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $163.99 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $140.87 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $151.76 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $156.69 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $161.79 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $164.54 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $152.61 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $178.65 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $151.54 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $149.90 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $144.41 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $165.75 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $156.71 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $151.27 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $152.13 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $171.18 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $153.22 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $141.33 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $142.31 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $140.49 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $139.20 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $137.98 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $178.24 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $177.56 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $180.19 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $144.93 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $159.56 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $146.76 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $161.98 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $155.86 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $133.80 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $153.31 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $196.69 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $141.54 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $153.11 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $158.66 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $142.37 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $145.52 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $143.43 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $152.12 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $176.23 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $181.79 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $141.44 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $138.25 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $177.83 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $168.20 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $167.37 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $154.78 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $180.00 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $148.31 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $138.94 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $142.55 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $137.52 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $141.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $154.93 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $160.38 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $141.68 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $134.41 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $166.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $145.88 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $152.17 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $142.00 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $146.15 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $160.26 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $157.88 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $166.39 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $175.18 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $174.56 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $179.61 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $209.63 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $209.56 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $214.38 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $214.10 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $171.62 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $182.06 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $175.47 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $183.97 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $184.69 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $142.63 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $151.98 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $151.34 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $158.65 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $139.95 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $144.91 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $196.59 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $150.95 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $154.78 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $150.40 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $165.74 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $136.28 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $146.19 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $152.79 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $165.74 | Unavailable |
78700 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.
$133.08
$190.06
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 | $168.64 | 1 |
| AL | $135.36 | 1 |
| AR | $133.08 | 1 |
| AZ | $148.79 | 1 |
| CA | $165.74–$214.38 | 29 |
| CO | $161.79 | 1 |
| CT | $164.54 | 1 |
| DC | $178.65 | 1 |
| DE | $151.54 | 1 |
| FL | $148.31–$161.98 | 3 |
| GA | $138.94–$155.94 | 2 |
| GU | $171.18 | 1 |
| HI | $171.18 | 1 |
| IA | $140.49 | 1 |
| ID | $141.33 | 1 |
| IL | $142.55–$158.65 | 4 |
| IN | $142.31 | 1 |
| KS | $139.20 | 1 |
| KY | $137.98 | 1 |
| LA | $137.52–$145.52 | 2 |
| MA | $160.38–$180.19 | 2 |
| MD | $154.93–$178.65 | 3 |
| ME | $141.62–$151.34 | 2 |
| MI | $141.68–$149.90 | 2 |
| MN | $155.86 | 1 |
| MO | $134.41–$146.76 | 3 |
| MS | $133.80 | 1 |
| MT | $153.31 | 1 |
| NC | $143.43 | 1 |
| ND | $152.12 | 1 |
| NE | $141.54 | 1 |
| NH | $158.66 | 1 |
| NJ | $166.66–$176.23 | 2 |
| NM | $142.37 | 1 |
| NV | $153.11 | 1 |
| NY | $145.88–$181.79 | 5 |
| OH | $141.44 | 1 |
| OK | $138.25 | 1 |
| OR | $152.17–$168.20 | 2 |
| PA | $142.00–$159.56 | 2 |
| PR | $154.78 | 1 |
| RI | $157.88 | 1 |
| SC | $142.63 | 1 |
| SD | $151.98 | 1 |
| TN | $139.95 | 1 |
| TX | $140.87–$161.03 | 8 |
| UT | $144.91 | 1 |
| VA | $150.40–$178.65 | 2 |
| VI | $154.78 | 1 |
| VT | $150.95 | 1 |
| WA | $160.26–$184.69 | 2 |
| WI | $146.19 | 1 |
| WV | $136.28 | 1 |
| WY | $152.79 | 1 |
How the 78700 rate is calculated
Each of 78700’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 · 78700
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.44Practice expense 4.09Malpractice 0.06
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78700
The CMS indicators that decide how 78700 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78700
Kidney 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
78700 without 26 · national office
$153.31
Kidney imaging
78700-26 · Professional component
$20.04
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78700 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
78700 vs 78701 vs 78707 vs 78708 vs 78725: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 78701Kidney imaging
- Choose 78700 for morphology-focused images; 78701 describes renal imaging that includes assessment of blood flow.
- 78707Renal imaging
- 78707 evaluates renal flow and function without pharmacologic intervention, while 78700 focuses on morphology.
- 78708Renal imaging
- 78708 evaluates renal flow and function with pharmacologic intervention; 78700 is selected for a morphology-focused study.
- 78725Kidney function study
- 78725 is a renal function study. Use 78700 when the performed nuclear imaging evaluates renal morphology instead.
78700 billing questions
When should 78700 be chosen instead of 78701?
Use 78700 for a study focused on renal morphology. Use 78701 when the imaging protocol includes assessment of renal blood flow.
How does 78700 differ from 78707 or 78708?
Those codes describe renal imaging that evaluates flow and function. Code 78700 is for morphology-focused imaging.
Which modifiers identify the professional and technical portions?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Reporting the code without either modifier represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 78700?
Document the clinical indication, the morphology-focused imaging performed, and the interpreting physician’s findings. The record should distinguish the study from a renal flow or function protocol.
Can 78700 be reported for a renal function study?
Not when the performed study is a function study rather than morphology imaging. Consider the renal function code that matches the actual protocol, such as 78725.
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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