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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

70260 in Merced

Office / nonfacility

$46.87

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.

Radiology

About 70260: Complete skull radiograph, four or more views

Reports a complete skull radiographic examination with at least four views, such as imaging ordered to assess cranial bone injury or abnormality.

This service is a multi-view radiographic examination of the skull, with at least four views obtained. A radiologic technologist typically acquires the images in an imaging department, hospital, or office-based radiology setting; a qualified physician interprets them and provides a report. Skull films may be ordered when the clinical question concerns the cranial bones, such as suspected skull fracture or a bone abnormality. The examination is distinct from imaging directed at the orbits, sinuses, or sella.

Select 70260 when the documented examination includes at least four skull views; a limited examination with one to three views is reported with 70250. The order, image record, and interpretation should support the skull as the imaged anatomy and the views performed. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the interpretation, TC for the equipment and staff, or neither modifier when billing the global service. The physician’s interpretation and the image-acquisition service may be billed by different entities.

CMS billing rules for 70260

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.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU0.27 · 21%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU1.02 · 78%
  • Malpractice RVU0.02 · 2%

8.8K

Medicare services in 2024 · #1543 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.

70260 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Merced, from the same CMS release.

70250

Skull X-ray

Fewer than four views

$38.32

Both codes examine the skull radiographically; choose 70260 for at least four views and 70250 for one to three.

70200

Orbit X-ray

Complete, four or more views

$50.16

70200 is directed at the orbits. Use 70260 when the examination is of the skull rather than the eye sockets.

70450

Head CT

Without contrast

$113.47

70450 is a head CT without contrast, not a skull radiograph. The selected modality and documented examination determine which code applies.

The same code, a different location

How does Merced compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 70260 is $46.94—$0.07 higher than the $46.87 rate in Merced. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

70260 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Merced · This locality

    $46.87

  2. Bakersfield

    $46.94

    $0.07 higher than Merced

  3. Chico

    $46.87

    The same base rate than Merced

  4. El Centro

    $46.87

    The same base rate than Merced

  5. Fresno

    $46.87

    The same base rate than Merced

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $46.87

    The same base rate than Merced

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

    $50.14

    $3.27 higher than Merced

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, 70260 ranges from $38.63 in Arkansas to $59.50 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

  • Madera

    California · 70260

    Office

    $46.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 70260

    Office

    $46.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 70260

    Office

    $54.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.96 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 70260

    Office

    $49.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.09 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 70260

    Office

    $46.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 70260

    Office

    $46.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 70260

    Office

    $47.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.22 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 70260

    Office

    $49.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.45 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 70260

    Office

    $49.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.27 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 70260

    Office

    $50.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.53 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 70260

    Office

    $58.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.35 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 70260

    Office

    $58.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.33 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 70260

    Office

    $59.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.63 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 70260

    Office

    $59.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.53 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 70260

    Office

    $48.33

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.46 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 70260

    Office

    $50.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.09 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 70260

    Office

    $49.35

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.48 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 70260

    Office

    $51.48

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.61 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 70260

    Office

    $46.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 70260

    Office

    $54.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.93 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 70260

    Office

    $46.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 70260

    Office

    $46.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 70260

    Office

    $50.38

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.51 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 70260

    Office

    $46.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.70 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 70260

    Office

    $44.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.02 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 70260

    Office

    $50.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.37 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 70260

    Office

    $50.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.31 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 70260

    Office

    $39.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 70260

    Office

    $38.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.24 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 70260

    Office

    $42.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.27 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 70260

    Office

    $45.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.97 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 70260

    Office

    $46.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.17 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 70260

    Office

    $43.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.55 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 70260

    Office

    $44.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.13 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 70260

    Office

    $42.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.28 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 70260

    Office

    $44.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 70260

    Office

    $40.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.67 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 70260

    Office

    $48.14

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.27 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 70260

    Office

    $40.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 70260

    Office

    $40.68

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.19 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 70260

    Office

    $41.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.16 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 70260

    Office

    $41.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.70 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 70260

    Office

    $45.25

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 70260

    Office

    $40.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.95 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 70260

    Office

    $40.15

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.72 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 70260

    Office

    $39.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.95 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 70260

    Office

    $41.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.03 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 70260

    Office

    $39.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.06 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 70260

    Office

    $50.66

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.79 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 70260

    Office

    $45.57

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.30 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 70260

    Office

    $46.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.33 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 70260

    Office

    $44.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.67 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 70260

    Office

    $40.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.09 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 70260

    Office

    $43.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.67 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 70260

    Office

    $43.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.85 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 70260

    Office

    $40.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.99 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 70260

    Office

    $44.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.60 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 70260

    Office

    $41.66

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.21 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 70260

    Office

    $42.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.75 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 70260

    Office

    $39.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.83 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 70260

    Office

    $38.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.02 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 70260

    Office

    $43.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.12 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 70260

    Office

    $41.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.64 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 70260

    Office

    $43.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.51 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 70260

    Office

    $40.72

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.15 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 70260

    Office

    $45.07

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 70260

    Office

    $49.82

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.95 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 70260

    Office

    $47.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.45 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 70260

    Office

    $41.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.81 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 70260

    Office

    $43.68

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.19 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 70260

    Office

    $51.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.47 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 70260

    Office

    $47.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.67 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 70260

    Office

    $50.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.96 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 70260

    Office

    $41.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.02 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 70260

    Office

    $40.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.07 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 70260

    Office

    $39.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.91 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 70260

    Office

    $47.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.64 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 70260

    Office

    $43.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.45 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 70260

    Office

    $45.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.43 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 70260

    Office

    $40.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.95 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 70260

    Office

    $44.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.75 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 70260

    Office

    $44.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.89 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 70260

    Office

    $41.07

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 70260

    Office

    $43.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.56 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 70260

    Office

    $40.35

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.52 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 70260

    Office

    $45.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.20 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 70260

    Office

    $40.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.23 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 70260

    Office

    $43.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.50 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 70260

    Office

    $43.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.26 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 70260

    Office

    $43.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.60 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 70260

    Office

    $43.47

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.40 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 70260

    Office

    $43.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.03 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 70260

    Office

    $41.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.92 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 70260

    Office

    $41.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.23 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 70260

    Office

    $42.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.89 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 70260

    Office

    $44.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.75 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 70260

    Office

    $43.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.79 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 70260

    Office

    $45.52

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.35 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 70260

    Office

    $51.82

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.95 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 70260

    Office

    $41.86

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.01 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 70260

    Office

    $39.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 70260

    Office

    $43.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

70260 · 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.

$38.63

$53.19

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$50.181
AL$39.211
AR$38.631
AZ$42.601
CA$46.87–$59.5029
CO$45.901
CT$46.701
DC$50.381
DE$43.321
FL$42.59–$46.173
GA$40.20–$44.462
GU$48.141
HI$48.141
IA$40.461
ID$40.681
IL$41.17–$45.254
IN$40.921
KS$40.151
KY$39.921
LA$39.81–$41.842
MA$45.57–$50.662
MD$44.20–$50.383
ME$40.78–$43.202
MI$40.88–$43.022
MN$44.271
MO$39.04–$42.123
MS$38.851
MT$43.751
NC$41.231
ND$43.361
NE$40.721
NH$45.071
NJ$47.32–$49.822
NM$41.061
NV$43.681
NY$41.85–$51.345
OH$40.801
OK$39.961
OR$43.42–$47.512
PA$40.92–$45.442
PR$44.121
RI$44.981
SC$41.071
SD$43.311
TN$40.351
TX$40.64–$45.678
UT$41.641
VA$42.98–$50.382
VI$44.121
VT$43.081
WA$45.52–$51.822
WI$41.861
WV$39.581
WY$43.581

Explore 70260 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Merced is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 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 70260 in Merced. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$51.56

$46.87 × 110% = $51.56

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 70260 in Merced.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,733

Code
70260
Physician work
0.27
Practice expense
1.02
Malpractice
0.02

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 70260 in Merced
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.27× 1.0170.2746
Practice expense1.02× 1.0961.1179
Malpractice0.02× 0.5360.0107
Total RVUs1.4032
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Merced$46.87

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

Open 70260 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.271.017
Practice expense1.021.096
Malpractice0.020.536

(0.27 × 1.017 + 1.02 × 1.096 + 0.02 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $46.87

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

70260 · Office / nonfacility

$46.87

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.55 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $46.32 to $46.87 (1.2%).

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

    $46.32changed to$46.87

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.28 changed to 0.27
    • Practice expense RVU 1.04 changed to 1.02
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $46.32

    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$46.87Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$46.87Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$46.87Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$46.87Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$46.32Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$46.32Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$46.32Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$46.32Not available in this settingRVU25A

70260 billing questions

How is 70260 distinguished from 70250?

70260 is for a complete skull examination with at least four views. Use 70250 for a skull examination with one to three views.

Which modifier reports the interpretation?

Append modifier 26 when billing only the physician’s professional interpretation. The interpretation should be supported by a report.

When is modifier TC used?

Append TC when billing only the technical service, including image acquisition, equipment, and staff. Bill without a component modifier when billing the global service.

What documentation supports reporting 70260?

The record should identify the skull as the imaged anatomy and document that at least four views were obtained. The interpreting physician’s report should address the examination.

Can 70260 be used for orbital or sinus films?

No. Select the radiographic code for the anatomy actually examined; 70200 describes orbital imaging, while sinus radiographs use their own codes.

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 70260PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,733 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MercedGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet