Billing code 24220: Arthrographic injectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Delaware
Injection of contrast into the elbow joint for arthrographic imaging, reported when the joint is prepared for radiographic or cross-sectional evaluation.
Medicare pays $184.48 for 24220 in the office in Delaware (Delaware). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 24220 covers
For code 24220, a clinician places contrast into the elbow joint space to outline its structures during arthrographic imaging. Radiologists and orthopedic clinicians commonly perform the injection in an imaging department or procedure setting. The resulting study may use radiographs or cross-sectional imaging to evaluate the joint. This is an imaging-preparation injection, not a therapeutic injection intended to treat elbow pain or inflammation.
Report the injection when the record supports intra-articular contrast placement for an elbow arthrogram, including the joint treated, laterality, and imaging purpose. The associated imaging service, such as elbow arthrography, is reported separately when performed and documented. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery payment are not permitted.
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.
24220 in Delaware
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $184.48 | $55.78 |
How the 24220 rate is calculated
Each of 24220’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 24220
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.28Practice expense 4.17Malpractice 0.13
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 24220
The CMS indicators that decide how 24220 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 24220
Arthrographic injection
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
24220 without 50 · national office
$186.38
Arthrographic injection
24220-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$279.57
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
24220 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
24220 vs 73085 vs 24200 vs 24201: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 73085Contrast X-ray
- 24220 reports contrast injection into the elbow joint; 73085 reports the radiographic arthrography study.
- 24200Foreign body removal
- 24200 reports removal of a subcutaneous foreign body from the upper arm or elbow, not an arthrographic injection.
- 24201Foreign body removal
- 24201 reports removal of a deep foreign body from the upper arm or elbow; 24220 prepares the elbow joint for arthrographic imaging.
24220 billing questions
How is 24220 different from an elbow therapeutic injection?
Use 24220 when contrast is injected into the elbow joint to support arthrographic imaging. A therapeutic injection is performed to treat symptoms rather than outline the joint for imaging.
Can the elbow imaging study be reported separately?
Yes. The imaging service, such as elbow arthrography reported with 73085, is separate from the contrast injection when that imaging service is performed and documented.
What documentation supports 24220?
Document the elbow and laterality, intra-articular contrast placement, and the arthrographic imaging purpose. The record should also support the imaging service reported with the injection.
How does CMS handle bilateral reporting?
CMS pays a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 at 150%. The documentation should support arthrographic injections in both elbows.
How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?
When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the remaining procedures are paid at 50% under the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. CMS does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery payment for this code.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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