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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

73218 in Austin

Office / nonfacility

$317.83

Base rate per service

Facility setting

Not available in this setting

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

MRI

About 73218: Non-joint upper-extremity MRI without contrast

Reports MRI of an upper-extremity region outside a joint, without contrast, to evaluate soft-tissue or bone abnormalities when MRI findings are needed.

This service is an MRI examination of an upper-extremity area that is not being imaged as a joint study, acquired without injected contrast. It can address concerns such as a soft-tissue mass, infection, or injury involving the arm, forearm, or non-joint-focused hand tissues. A radiologic technologist obtains images in a hospital or freestanding imaging center; a radiologist interprets them for the ordering clinician.

Choose this code when the documented target is an upper-extremity region rather than a joint-centered examination. The order and report should identify the body region, laterality, clinical indication, and noncontrast protocol. Report a separate service for each side examined; under CMS, each side is paid separately at 100% when performed bilaterally. The study may be billed globally, or the interpretation may be billed with modifier 26 and the equipment and staff portion with modifier TC; CMS separately prices those components. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are billed, the multiple-procedure reduction applies to both the professional and technical components.

CMS billing rules for 73218

Professional and technical components
Diagnostic test with a professional component (modifier 26, interpretation) and a technical component (modifier TC, equipment and staff); billing without a modifier is the global service.
Multiple procedures
Diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical and professional components.
Bilateral procedures
Each side is paid separately at 100% when performed bilaterally.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.32 · 15%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU7.66 · 84%
  • Malpractice RVU0.10 · 1%

40K

Medicare services in 2024 · #871 by national volume

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.

73218 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.

73221

Joint MRI

Upper extremity, no contrast

$213.99

This code is for a non-joint-focused upper-extremity MRI. Choose 73221 when the study is centered on an upper-extremity joint.

73219

Extremity MRI

Contrast, non-joint area

$345.20

Both codes cover non-joint-focused upper-extremity MRI; 73219 is for a study performed with contrast.

73220

Extremity MRI

Without and with contrast

$425.57

Both codes cover non-joint-focused upper-extremity MRI; 73220 is for imaging performed before and after contrast.

73200

Ct upper extremity w/o dye

No office rate

73200 reports a CT examination of the upper extremity without contrast, while this code reports MRI without contrast.

The same code, a different location

How does Austin compare?

In Beaumont, the office rate for 73218 is $280.02—$37.81 lower than the $317.83 rate in Austin. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

73218 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Austin · This locality

    $317.83

  2. Beaumont

    $280.02

    $37.81 lower than Austin

  3. Brazoria

    $300.60

    $17.23 lower than Austin

  4. Dallas

    $302.18

    $15.65 lower than Austin

  5. Fort Worth

    $299.66

    $18.17 lower than Austin

  6. Galveston

    $301.27

    $16.56 lower than Austin

  7. Houston

    $303.10

    $14.73 lower than Austin

Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 73218 ranges from $265.59 in Arkansas to $419.67 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 73218

    Office

    $289.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.92 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    California · 73218

    Office

    $350.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.96 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 73218

    Office

    $351.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $33.75 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 73218

    Office

    $318.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.05 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 73218

    Office

    $309.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.64 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 73218

    Office

    $349.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.68 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 73218

    Office

    $340.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.63 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 73218

    Office

    $269.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $47.98 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 73218

    Office

    $265.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $52.24 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 73218

    Office

    $294.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.96 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.54 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.23 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 73218

    Office

    $385.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $67.95 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 73218

    Office

    $349.82

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.99 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 73218

    Office

    $328.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.31 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 73218

    Office

    $345.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.19 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 73218

    Office

    $343.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.95 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 73218

    Office

    $353.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $35.39 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 73218

    Office

    $410.56

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $92.73 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 73218

    Office

    $410.45

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $92.62 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 73218

    Office

    $419.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $101.84 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 73218

    Office

    $419.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $101.37 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 73218

    Office

    $338.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 73218

    Office

    $357.66

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.83 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 73218

    Office

    $345.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.61 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 73218

    Office

    $361.39

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $43.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 73218

    Office

    $385.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $67.78 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 73218

    Office

    $327.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.21 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 73218

    Office

    $319.45

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.62 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 73218

    Office

    $324.56

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.73 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 73218

    Office

    $300.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.74 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 73218

    Office

    $309.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.52 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 73218

    Office

    $293.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.13 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 73218

    Office

    $308.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.65 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 73218

    Office

    $276.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $41.54 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 73218

    Office

    $336.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.10 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 73218

    Office

    $279.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $38.31 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 73218

    Office

    $281.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.78 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 73218

    Office

    $286.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.63 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 73218

    Office

    $282.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $34.93 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 73218

    Office

    $313.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.75 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 73218

    Office

    $282.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $34.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 73218

    Office

    $277.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $40.77 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 73218

    Office

    $274.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $43.23 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 73218

    Office

    $288.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.19 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 73218

    Office

    $273.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $44.11 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 73218

    Office

    $354.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.53 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 73218

    Office

    $316.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.96 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 73218

    Office

    $323.45

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.62 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 73218

    Office

    $306.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.31 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 73218

    Office

    $281.55

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.28 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 73218

    Office

    $299.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.08 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 73218

    Office

    $296.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.21 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 73218

    Office

    $281.45

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.38 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 73218

    Office

    $308.35

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.48 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 73218

    Office

    $287.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $30.23 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 73218

    Office

    $291.01

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.82 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 73218

    Office

    $267.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $49.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 73218

    Office

    $266.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $50.98 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 73218

    Office

    $303.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.56 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 73218

    Office

    $284.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.90 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 73218

    Office

    $301.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 73218

    Office

    $281.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.33 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 73218

    Office

    $313.35

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.48 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 73218

    Office

    $347.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.39 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 73218

    Office

    $328.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.08 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 73218

    Office

    $282.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $35.11 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 73218

    Office

    $302.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.85 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 73218

    Office

    $357.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.49 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 73218

    Office

    $330.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.44 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 73218

    Office

    $354.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.31 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 73218

    Office

    $289.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.33 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 73218

    Office

    $281.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $36.78 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 73218

    Office

    $275.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $42.67 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 73218

    Office

    $331.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.70 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 73218

    Office

    $301.26

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.57 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 73218

    Office

    $315.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.62 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 73218

    Office

    $282.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $35.71 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 73218

    Office

    $306.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.79 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 73218

    Office

    $312.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.63 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 73218

    Office

    $283.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $34.50 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 73218

    Office

    $301.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.77 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 73218

    Office

    $278.45

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $39.38 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 73218

    Office

    $287.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $30.24 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 73218

    Office

    $297.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.88 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 73218

    Office

    $306.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.79 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 73218

    Office

    $299.07

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.76 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 73218

    Office

    $316.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.21 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 73218

    Office

    $362.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $45.12 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 73218

    Office

    $290.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.61 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 73218

    Office

    $271.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $46.63 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 73218

    Office

    $302.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.42 lower than Austin for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

73218 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

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.

$265.59

$373.36

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$340.461
AL$269.851
AR$265.591
AZ$294.871
CA$327.04–$419.6729
CO$319.451
CT$324.561
DC$351.581
DE$300.091
FL$293.70–$318.883
GA$276.29–$308.182
GU$336.931
HI$336.931
IA$279.521
ID$281.051
IL$282.90–$313.084
IN$282.891
KS$277.061
KY$274.601
LA$273.72–$288.642
MA$316.87–$354.362
MD$306.52–$351.583
ME$281.55–$299.752
MI$281.45–$296.622
MN$308.351
MO$267.89–$291.013
MS$266.851
MT$303.271
NC$284.931
ND$301.301
NE$281.501
NH$313.351
NJ$328.91–$347.222
NM$282.721
NV$302.981
NY$289.50–$357.325
OH$281.051
OK$275.161
OR$301.26–$331.532
PA$282.12–$315.212
PR$306.041
RI$312.201
SC$283.331
SD$301.061
TN$278.451
TX$280.02–$317.838
UT$287.591
VA$297.95–$351.582
VI$306.041
VT$299.071
WA$316.62–$362.952
WI$290.221
WV$271.201
WY$302.411

Explore 73218 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Austin is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in Texas →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 73218 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$349.61

$317.83 × 110% = $349.61

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

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How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 73218 in Austin.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

8,165

Code
73218
Physician work
1.32
Practice expense
7.66
Malpractice
0.10

GPCI2026.csv

96

Locality
Austin
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office / nonfacility calculation for 73218 in Austin
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.32× 1.0021.3226
Practice expense7.66× 1.0588.1043
Malpractice0.10× 0.8860.0886
Total RVUs9.5155
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Austin$317.83

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 73218 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.321.002
Practice expense7.661.058
Malpractice0.10.886

(1.32 × 1.002 + 7.66 × 1.058 + 0.1 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $317.83

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

73218 · Office / nonfacility

$317.83

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $10.30 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $307.53 to $317.83 (3.3%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $307.53changed to$317.83

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.35 changed to 1.32
    • Practice expense RVU 7.72 changed to 7.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.914 changed to 0.886

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $307.53

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$317.83Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$317.83Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$317.83Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$317.83Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$307.53Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$307.53Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$307.53Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$307.53Not available in this settingRVU25A

73218 billing questions

When should this code be chosen instead of a joint MRI code?

Use this code when the imaged target is an upper-extremity region outside a joint. A joint-centered examination, such as an MRI focused on the wrist or elbow joint, belongs to the joint MRI code family.

How does this differ from the contrast MRI codes in this family?

This code represents a noncontrast study. Use the corresponding family code when the examination uses contrast or includes both precontrast and postcontrast imaging.

Can the interpretation and image acquisition be billed separately?

Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service; billing without either modifier represents the global service.

How is a bilateral examination handled under the CMS payment rule?

CMS pays each side separately at 100% when both sides are examined. The documentation should support the examination of each side.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the upper-extremity region and side examined, the clinical reason for imaging, and that the study was performed without contrast. The report should identify the findings for the imaged region.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 73218PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,165 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AustinGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet