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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

78481 in El Centro

Office / nonfacility

$174.45

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.

Nuclear cardiology

About 78481: Single first-pass cardiac function study

Reports one radionuclide first-pass cardiac function study, using sequential images to evaluate ventricular motion and ejection fraction.

A radiopharmaceutical bolus is followed as it moves through the heart, with rapid image acquisition during its first passage through the cardiac chambers. The resulting study supports quantitative assessment of cardiac function, including wall motion and ejection fraction. Nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, or cardiologists may perform and interpret the examination in an imaging department or hospital setting, with or without pharmacologic intervention.

Report 78481 for a single first-pass study, rather than a series of first-pass studies. Documentation should identify the study performed and include the image interpretation and quantitative findings. The service has professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and no component modifier represents the global service. When multiple cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are performed, CMS applies the multiple-procedure reduction to the technical component.

CMS billing rules for 78481

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
Cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU0.96 · 20%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU3.85 · 79%
  • Malpractice RVU0.05 · 1%

639

Medicare services in 2024 · #3344 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.

78481 compared with similar codes

Office rates for El Centro, from the same CMS release.

78483

First-pass cardiac imaging

Multiple studies

$235.25

Both use first-pass cardiac function imaging, but 78481 represents one study and 78483 represents multiple studies.

78472

Cardiac blood-pool imaging

Single planar equilibrium study

$223.32

78481 tracks the tracer during its first passage through the heart; 78472 is a single gated blood-pool study.

78494

Cardiac blood-pool imaging

Gated SPECT

$226.63

78481 uses first-pass acquisition, while 78494 is cardiac SPECT imaging.

The same code, a different location

How does El Centro compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 78481 is $174.63—$0.18 higher than the $174.45 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

78481 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. El Centro · This locality

    $174.45

  2. Bakersfield

    $174.63

    $0.18 higher than El Centro

  3. Chico

    $174.44

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  4. Fresno

    $174.44

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  5. Hanford-Corcoran

    $174.44

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

  6. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $186.61

    $12.16 higher than El Centro

  7. Madera

    $174.44

    $0.01 lower than El Centro

Other payment areas listed in California 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, 78481 ranges from $143.39 in Arkansas to $221.92 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

  • Merced

    California · 78481

    Office

    $174.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 78481

    Office

    $174.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 78481

    Office

    $204.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.97 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 78481

    Office

    $186.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.55 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 78481

    Office

    $174.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 78481

    Office

    $174.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 78481

    Office

    $175.01

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.56 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 78481

    Office

    $183.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.22 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 78481

    Office

    $182.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.54 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 78481

    Office

    $187.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.28 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 78481

    Office

    $217.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $42.74 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78481

    Office

    $217.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $42.69 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78481

    Office

    $221.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $47.47 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

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

    California · 78481

    Office

    $221.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $47.24 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 78481

    Office

    $179.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.52 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 78481

    Office

    $189.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.42 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 78481

    Office

    $183.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.35 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 78481

    Office

    $191.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.38 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 78481

    Office

    $174.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 78481

    Office

    $204.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.89 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 78481

    Office

    $174.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 78481

    Office

    $174.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 78481

    Office

    $187.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.69 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 78481

    Office

    $170.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.30 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 78481

    Office

    $165.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.09 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 78481

    Office

    $186.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.74 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 78481

    Office

    $185.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.52 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 78481

    Office

    $145.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.92 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 78481

    Office

    $143.39

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 78481

    Office

    $158.10

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 78481

    Office

    $170.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.87 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 78481

    Office

    $173.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.23 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 78481

    Office

    $160.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.67 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 78481

    Office

    $165.35

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 78481

    Office

    $157.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.94 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 78481

    Office

    $164.82

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.63 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 78481

    Office

    $148.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.69 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 78481

    Office

    $179.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.79 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 78481

    Office

    $150.39

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 78481

    Office

    $151.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.29 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 78481

    Office

    $153.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.72 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 78481

    Office

    $152.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.37 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 78481

    Office

    $167.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.14 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 78481

    Office

    $152.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.37 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 78481

    Office

    $149.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.29 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 78481

    Office

    $147.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.54 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 78481

    Office

    $154.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.48 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 78481

    Office

    $147.47

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.98 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 78481

    Office

    $188.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.96 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 78481

    Office

    $169.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 78481

    Office

    $172.62

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.83 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 78481

    Office

    $164.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 78481

    Office

    $151.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.04 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 78481

    Office

    $160.55

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.90 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 78481

    Office

    $158.97

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.48 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 78481

    Office

    $151.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.09 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 78481

    Office

    $164.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.57 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 78481

    Office

    $154.45

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 78481

    Office

    $156.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.29 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 78481

    Office

    $144.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.91 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 78481

    Office

    $144.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $30.43 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 78481

    Office

    $162.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.12 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 78481

    Office

    $153.11

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 78481

    Office

    $161.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.11 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 78481

    Office

    $151.39

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 78481

    Office

    $167.39

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 78481

    Office

    $185.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.59 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 78481

    Office

    $175.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.15 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 78481

    Office

    $151.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.46 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 78481

    Office

    $162.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.27 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 78481

    Office

    $190.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.67 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 78481

    Office

    $176.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.89 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 78481

    Office

    $188.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.07 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 78481

    Office

    $155.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.05 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 78481

    Office

    $151.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.30 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 78481

    Office

    $148.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.25 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 78481

    Office

    $176.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.24 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 78481

    Office

    $161.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.13 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 78481

    Office

    $168.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.95 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 78481

    Office

    $151.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.76 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 78481

    Office

    $163.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 78481

    Office

    $167.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.45 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 78481

    Office

    $152.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.15 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 78481

    Office

    $161.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.23 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 78481

    Office

    $149.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.60 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 78481

    Office

    $169.66

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.79 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 78481

    Office

    $150.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.81 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 78481

    Office

    $161.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.39 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 78481

    Office

    $161.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.58 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 78481

    Office

    $160.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.85 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 78481

    Office

    $161.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.05 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 78481

    Office

    $162.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.14 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 78481

    Office

    $155.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 78481

    Office

    $154.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.01 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 78481

    Office

    $159.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.80 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 78481

    Office

    $163.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 78481

    Office

    $160.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.23 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 78481

    Office

    $169.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.29 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 78481

    Office

    $192.82

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.37 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 78481

    Office

    $155.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.68 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 78481

    Office

    $146.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.25 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 78481

    Office

    $161.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.56 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

78481 · 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.

$143.39

$198.18

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$185.971
AL$145.531
AR$143.391
AZ$158.101
CA$174.44–$221.9229
CO$170.581
CT$173.221
DC$187.141
DE$160.781
FL$157.51–$170.153
GA$148.76–$164.822
GU$179.241
HI$179.241
IA$150.391
ID$151.161
IL$152.08–$167.314
IN$152.081
KS$149.161
KY$147.911
LA$147.47–$154.972
MA$169.32–$188.412
MD$164.06–$187.143
ME$151.41–$160.552
MI$151.36–$158.972
MN$164.881
MO$144.54–$156.163
MS$144.021
MT$162.331
NC$153.111
ND$161.341
NE$151.391
NH$167.391
NJ$175.60–$185.042
NM$151.991
NV$162.181
NY$155.40–$190.125
OH$151.151
OK$148.201
OR$161.32–$176.692
PA$151.69–$168.502
PR$163.721
RI$167.001
SC$152.301
SD$161.221
TN$149.851
TX$150.64–$169.668
UT$154.441
VA$159.65–$187.142
VI$163.721
VT$160.221
WA$169.16–$192.822
WI$155.771
WV$146.201
WY$161.891

Explore 78481 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

El Centro is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 18 cities and communities in California, 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 California →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 78481 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$191.90

$174.45 × 110% = $191.90

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.

Compare your contract offer →

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 78481 in El Centro.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

9,404

Code
78481
Physician work
0.96
Practice expense
3.85
Malpractice
0.05

GPCI2026.csv

10

Locality
El Centro
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.541
Office / nonfacility calculation for 78481 in El Centro
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.96× 1.0170.9763
Practice expense3.85× 1.0964.2196
Malpractice0.05× 0.5410.0271
Total RVUs5.2230
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$174.45

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

Open 78481 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.961.017
Practice expense3.851.096
Malpractice0.050.541

(0.96 × 1.017 + 3.85 × 1.096 + 0.05 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $174.45

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

78481 · Office / nonfacility

$174.45

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $7.21 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $167.24 to $174.45 (4.3%).

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

    $167.24changed to$174.45

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.98 changed to 0.96
    • Practice expense RVU 3.79 changed to 3.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.570 changed to 0.541

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $167.24

    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$174.45Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$174.45Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$174.45Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$174.45Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$167.24Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$167.24Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$167.24Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$167.24Not available in this settingRVU25A

78481 billing questions

When is 78481 used instead of 78483?

Use 78481 for a single first-pass cardiac function study. Use 78483 when multiple first-pass studies are performed.

Can the interpretation and imaging be billed separately?

Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What happens when other cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are performed?

CMS applies its cardiovascular diagnostic multiple-procedure reduction to the technical component. The reduction does not apply to the professional component under the supplied CMS rule.

How does 78481 differ from a gated blood-pool study?

78481 follows the tracer during its first passage through the heart. Gated blood-pool imaging, such as 78472, uses a different acquisition approach.

What should the report document?

Document that a single first-pass study was performed, the interpretation, and quantitative findings such as wall motion and ejection fraction.

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 78481PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 9,404 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for El CentroGPCI2026.csv, line 10 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet