Both examine the maxillofacial region, but 70487 is for imaging with contrast; 70486 is for imaging without contrast.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
70486 Maxillofacial CT Medicare reimbursement rates in Arkansas
CT imaging of the facial bones and related structures without contrast, commonly reported to evaluate paranasal sinus disease or facial trauma. Compare 70486 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Arkansas.
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.
What does Medicare pay for 70486 in Arkansas?
Arkansas has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$113.39
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Arkansas
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
No supported rate
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Diagnostic imaging
About 70486: Maxillofacial CT without contrast
CT imaging of the facial bones and related structures without contrast, commonly reported to evaluate paranasal sinus disease or facial trauma.
This service uses computed tomography to image the facial bones and related structures without contrast material. Common indications include evaluation of the paranasal sinuses and assessment of facial injury. A radiology technologist typically acquires the images in an imaging department or other equipped setting; a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them and prepares a report.
Select this code when the documented examination covers the maxillofacial region and is performed without contrast. The order and report should support the clinical indication, anatomic coverage, and contrast protocol. The global service includes both image acquisition and interpretation when billed without a component modifier. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical service. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are reported, the CMS multiple procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional components.
CMS billing rules for 70486
- 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 RVU0.83 · 22%
- Practice expense (office) RVU2.95 · 77%
- Malpractice RVU0.06 · 2%
527.3K
Medicare services in 2024 · #225 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.
70486 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Arkansas, from the same CMS release.
70488 represents a maxillofacial examination performed both without and with contrast. Use 70486 for an examination performed only without contrast.
70480 is a noncontrast CT focused on the orbit, ear, or related region. Choose 70486 when the documented examination is of the maxillofacial region.
70450 covers noncontrast CT of the head or brain. Use 70486 when the imaged anatomy is maxillofacial rather than the head or brain.
Compare 70486 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Arkansas →
Office / nonfacility
$113.39
Facility
Unavailable
Need rates for a whole code list?
Fee-sheet and API access are in early access. Tell us which codes and locations your team needs.
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 70486 in Arkansas.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
7,805
- Code
- 70486
- Physician work
- 0.83
- Practice expense
- 2.95
- Malpractice
- 0.06
GPCI2026.csv
7
- Locality
- Arkansas
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.859
- Malpractice
- 0.515
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.83 | × 1.000 | 0.8300 |
| Practice expense | 2.95 | × 0.859 | 2.5341 |
| Malpractice | 0.06 | × 0.515 | 0.0309 |
| Total RVUs | 3.3950 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Arkansas$113.39
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.83 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 2.95 | 0.859 |
| Malpractice | 0.06 | 0.515 |
(0.83 × 1 + 2.95 × 0.859 + 0.06 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $113.39
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.
70486 billing questions
How does this differ from 70487?
70486 describes maxillofacial CT without contrast. Use 70487 when the maxillofacial examination is performed with contrast.
When is 70488 appropriate instead?
70488 is for a maxillofacial CT performed both without and with contrast. This code is for an examination without contrast.
What do modifiers 26 and TC identify?
Modifier 26 reports the physician’s professional interpretation, and modifier TC reports the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Does the multiple imaging reduction affect both components?
Yes. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both the technical and professional components.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The record should support the clinical reason for imaging, the maxillofacial anatomy examined, and that the study was performed without contrast. The imaging report should document the findings and interpretation.
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.
