CPT code 72156: Spine MRI2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports cervical spine MRI with images acquired before and after contrast, commonly used to evaluate suspected lesions, infection, or spinal cord abnormalities.
Medicare pays $293.28–$323.08 for 72156 in the office in Georgia, from Rest Of Georgia to Atlanta. 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 72156 covers
This examination uses magnetic resonance imaging to assess the cervical vertebrae, discs, spinal canal, cord, and surrounding tissues, with images obtained before and after contrast administration. It may be ordered for suspected tumor, infection, inflammatory disease, postoperative concerns, or neurologic symptoms that suggest cervical cord or nerve-root disease. A technologist performs the scan in a hospital or outpatient imaging center, and a radiologist interprets the images.
Report this code when the cervical spine study includes both precontrast and postcontrast imaging; a study using only one contrast protocol is coded differently. The record should support the clinical reason for imaging and document the performed examination and interpretation. The global service includes the professional interpretation and technical work; modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both components when it applies.
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.
Where 72156 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $323.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $293.28 | Unavailable |
How the 72156 rate is calculated
Each of 72156’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 · 72156
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.23
2.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.13
7.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.16
0.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
9.5200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$317.98
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72156
The CMS indicators that decide how 72156 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72156
Spine MRI
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 4 | Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| 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 | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
72156 without 26 · national office
$317.98
Spine MRI
72156-26 · Professional component
$105.55
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72156 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 72141Cervical MRI
- Choose 72141 when the cervical spine MRI is performed without contrast. This code requires imaging both before and after contrast.
- 72142Spine MRI
- Choose 72142 for a cervical spine MRI with contrast only; use this code when the examination includes both precontrast and postcontrast imaging.
- 72127Cervical spine CT
- 72127 is a cervical spine CT examination with imaging before and after contrast. This code is for the corresponding MRI examination.
72156 billing questions
When should this code be chosen over 72141?
Use this code when the cervical spine MRI includes images both before and after contrast. Code 72141 describes the study without contrast.
How does this differ from 72142?
Code 72142 is for cervical spine MRI performed with contrast only. This code represents imaging before and after contrast.
Can the interpretation and scan be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical portion. Without either modifier, the billing represents the global service.
Does the multiple procedure reduction affect both portions?
Yes. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to the technical and professional components.
Should the code be reported for each image sequence?
No. Report the examination as a service, not once for each sequence. The documentation should support that both precontrast and postcontrast imaging were performed.
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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