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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

70491 in Merced

Office / nonfacility

$195.73

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.

CT imaging

About 70491: Contrast-enhanced soft tissue neck CT

Contrast-enhanced CT of the soft tissues of the neck, reported to evaluate masses, adenopathy, infection, or other nonvascular neck abnormalities.

This study uses computed tomography with contrast to depict soft tissues of the neck, including structures such as the pharynx, larynx, thyroid region, and cervical lymph nodes. It is commonly ordered to assess a neck mass, enlarged nodes, or suspected deep neck infection. A technologist acquires the images, and a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them in a hospital, imaging center, or office setting.

Select this code when the documented examination covers the soft tissues of the neck and uses contrast; use a different code for a noncontrast study or one performed both without and with contrast. The order, imaging record, and interpretation should support the examined region, contrast protocol, and clinical question. The service may be billed globally, or the professional interpretation with modifier 26 and the technical service with modifier TC. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the technical and professional components.

CMS billing rules for 70491

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.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.35 · 25%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU4.05 · 74%
  • Malpractice RVU0.09 · 2%

290.8K

Medicare services in 2024 · #319 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.

70491 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Merced, from the same CMS release.

70490

Neck CT

Without contrast

$159.21

Choose 70490 for a soft tissue neck CT without contrast; choose 70491 when contrast is used.

70492

CT neck

Without and with contrast

$234.84

70492 represents a neck CT performed both without and with contrast. 70491 is for the contrast-only protocol.

70498

Ct angiography neck

No office rate

70498 is CT angiography of the neck, focused on vascular structures; 70491 evaluates neck soft tissues.

70460

Head CT

Contrast only

$157.95

70460 is a contrast-enhanced CT of the head or brain. 70491 applies when the documented study covers the soft tissues of the neck.

The same code, a different location

How does Merced compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 70491 is $196.04—$0.31 higher than the $195.73 rate in Merced. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

70491 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Merced · This locality

    $195.73

  2. Bakersfield

    $196.04

    $0.31 higher than Merced

  3. Chico

    $195.73

    The same base rate than Merced

  4. El Centro

    $195.74

    $0.01 higher than Merced

  5. Fresno

    $195.73

    The same base rate than Merced

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $195.73

    The same base rate than Merced

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

    $208.96

    $13.23 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, 70491 ranges from $162.84 in Arkansas to $246.73 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 · 70491

    Office

    $195.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 70491

    Office

    $195.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 70491

    Office

    $227.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.02 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 70491

    Office

    $208.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.39 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 70491

    Office

    $195.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 70491

    Office

    $195.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 70491

    Office

    $196.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.00 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 70491

    Office

    $205.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.92 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 70491

    Office

    $204.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.15 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 70491

    Office

    $209.86

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.13 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 70491

    Office

    $241.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $45.76 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 70491

    Office

    $241.39

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $45.66 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 70491

    Office

    $246.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $51.00 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 70491

    Office

    $246.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $50.58 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 70491

    Office

    $201.55

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.82 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 70491

    Office

    $212.01

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.28 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 70491

    Office

    $205.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.96 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 70491

    Office

    $214.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.44 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 70491

    Office

    $195.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 70491

    Office

    $227.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.87 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 70491

    Office

    $195.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 70491

    Office

    $195.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 70491

    Office

    $210.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.49 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 70491

    Office

    $193.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.22 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 70491

    Office

    $188.26

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.47 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 70491

    Office

    $209.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.20 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 70491

    Office

    $213.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.63 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 70491

    Office

    $165.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $30.57 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 70491

    Office

    $162.84

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.89 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 70491

    Office

    $178.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.99 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 70491

    Office

    $191.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.82 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 70491

    Office

    $195.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 70491

    Office

    $181.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.06 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 70491

    Office

    $187.56

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.17 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 70491

    Office

    $178.93

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 70491

    Office

    $186.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.46 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 70491

    Office

    $169.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.39 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 70491

    Office

    $200.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.91 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 70491

    Office

    $170.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $25.67 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 70491

    Office

    $170.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.77 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 70491

    Office

    $175.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.13 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 70491

    Office

    $173.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.44 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 70491

    Office

    $189.66

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.07 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 70491

    Office

    $171.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.78 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 70491

    Office

    $168.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.84 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 70491

    Office

    $168.10

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.63 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 70491

    Office

    $175.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.93 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 70491

    Office

    $167.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.04 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 70491

    Office

    $211.13

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.40 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 70491

    Office

    $190.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.08 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 70491

    Office

    $194.68

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.05 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 70491

    Office

    $185.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.53 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 70491

    Office

    $171.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.32 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 70491

    Office

    $181.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.69 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 70491

    Office

    $180.70

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.03 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 70491

    Office

    $171.99

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.74 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 70491

    Office

    $185.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.55 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 70491

    Office

    $175.05

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.68 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 70491

    Office

    $176.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.85 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 70491

    Office

    $164.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.10 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 70491

    Office

    $163.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $31.95 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 70491

    Office

    $183.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.37 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 70491

    Office

    $173.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.51 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 70491

    Office

    $181.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.14 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 70491

    Office

    $171.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.64 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 70491

    Office

    $188.54

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.19 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 70491

    Office

    $208.06

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.33 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 70491

    Office

    $197.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.18 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 70491

    Office

    $172.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $22.98 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 70491

    Office

    $183.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.73 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 70491

    Office

    $214.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.67 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 70491

    Office

    $198.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.15 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 70491

    Office

    $212.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.48 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 70491

    Office

    $175.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.02 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 70491

    Office

    $171.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.10 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 70491

    Office

    $168.23

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $27.50 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 70491

    Office

    $198.34

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.61 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 70491

    Office

    $181.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.79 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 70491

    Office

    $190.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.42 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 70491

    Office

    $172.11

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 70491

    Office

    $184.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.92 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 70491

    Office

    $188.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.36 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 70491

    Office

    $172.64

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $23.09 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 70491

    Office

    $181.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.36 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 70491

    Office

    $169.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $26.06 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 70491

    Office

    $190.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.77 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 70491

    Office

    $170.98

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $24.75 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 70491

    Office

    $181.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.88 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 70491

    Office

    $182.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.92 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 70491

    Office

    $181.50

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.23 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 70491

    Office

    $182.27

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.46 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 70491

    Office

    $183.92

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.81 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 70491

    Office

    $176.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.55 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 70491

    Office

    $174.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.78 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 70491

    Office

    $180.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.54 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 70491

    Office

    $184.81

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.92 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 70491

    Office

    $180.53

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.20 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 70491

    Office

    $190.41

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.32 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 70491

    Office

    $215.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.05 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 70491

    Office

    $175.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.12 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 70491

    Office

    $166.95

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $28.78 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 70491

    Office

    $182.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.14 lower than Merced for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

70491 · 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.

$162.84

$221.23

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$213.361
AL$165.161
AR$162.841
AZ$178.741
CA$195.73–$246.7329
CO$191.911
CT$195.321
DC$210.221
DE$181.671
FL$178.93–$193.513
GA$169.34–$186.272
GU$200.641
HI$200.641
IA$170.061
ID$170.961
IL$173.29–$189.664
IN$171.951
KS$168.891
KY$168.101
LA$167.69–$175.802
MA$190.65–$211.132
MD$185.20–$210.223
ME$171.41–$181.042
MI$171.99–$180.702
MN$185.181
MO$164.63–$176.883
MS$163.781
MT$183.361
NC$173.221
ND$181.591
NE$171.091
NH$188.541
NJ$197.91–$208.062
NM$172.751
NV$183.001
NY$175.71–$214.405
OH$171.631
OK$168.231
OR$181.94–$198.342
PA$172.11–$190.312
PR$184.811
RI$188.371
SC$172.641
SD$181.371
TN$169.671
TX$170.98–$190.968
UT$174.951
VA$180.19–$210.222
VI$184.811
VT$180.531
WA$190.41–$215.782
WI$175.611
WV$166.951
WY$182.591

Explore 70491 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 70491 in Merced. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$215.30

$195.73 × 110% = $215.30

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 70491 in Merced.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,817

Code
70491
Physician work
1.35
Practice expense
4.05
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 70491 in Merced
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.35× 1.0171.3729
Practice expense4.05× 1.0964.4388
Malpractice0.09× 0.5360.0482
Total RVUs5.8600
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Merced$195.73

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

Open 70491 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.351.017
Practice expense4.051.096
Malpractice0.090.536

(1.35 × 1.017 + 4.05 × 1.096 + 0.09 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $195.73

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

70491 · Office / nonfacility

$195.73

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.65 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $193.08 to $195.73 (1.4%).

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

    $193.08changed to$195.73

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.38 changed to 1.35
    • Practice expense RVU 4.14 changed to 4.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • 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: $193.08

    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$195.73Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$195.73Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$195.73Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$195.73Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$193.08Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$193.08Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$193.08Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$193.08Not available in this settingRVU25A

70491 billing questions

How does this differ from 70490?

70491 is for a soft tissue neck CT performed with contrast. 70490 describes the corresponding study without contrast.

When should 70492 be used instead?

Use 70492 when the neck CT is performed both without and with contrast. A study performed with contrast only is reported with 70491.

Can the interpretation and image acquisition be billed separately?

Yes. Report the professional interpretation with modifier 26 and the technical service with modifier TC; billing without either modifier represents the global service.

Does the multiple procedure reduction affect this code?

CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to the technical and professional components. This can affect either component when it is billed separately.

How does this differ from a neck CT angiography?

70491 evaluates neck soft tissues with contrast. 70498 is for CT angiography of the neck when the examination is directed at blood vessels.

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 70491PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,817 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MercedGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet