$21.95
Both describe a one-view spine radiograph, but 72081 is for the entire spine; 72020 is used when the documented study is not an entire-spine examination.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
72081 Spine X-ray Medicare reimbursement rates in Idaho
Reports a one-view radiographic study covering the entire spine, commonly obtained to assess scoliosis or overall spinal alignment. Compare 72081 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Idaho.
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 72081 in Idaho?
Idaho 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
$40.78
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Idaho
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.
Radiology
About 72081: Entire-spine radiograph, one view
Reports a one-view radiographic study covering the entire spine, commonly obtained to assess scoliosis or overall spinal alignment.
This service covers a single radiographic projection that includes the entire spine, rather than a study limited to one spinal region. It is commonly ordered to evaluate scoliosis or overall spinal alignment. A radiologic technologist acquires the image in an office imaging department or hospital, and a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets it and documents the findings.
Select the code when the order, image, and report support one view of the entire spine. The record should identify the study coverage and projection, with an interpretation addressing the clinical question. Modifier 26 identifies the physician’s interpretation and report; modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff used to acquire the image. Billing without either modifier represents the global service, including both portions.
CMS billing rules for 72081
- 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 RVU0.25 · 19%
- Practice expense (office) RVU1.04 · 79%
- Malpractice RVU0.03 · 2%
8.1K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1585 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.
72081 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Idaho, from the same CMS release.
$66.42
Both cover the entire spine. Choose 72081 for one view and 72082 for two or three views.
$73.90
This sibling covers four or five views of the entire spine; 72081 is limited to one view.
$91.12
This sibling covers six or more views of the entire spine; 72081 is for a single view.
Compare 72081 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
Idaho →
Office / nonfacility
$40.78
Facility
Unavailable
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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 72081 in Idaho.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
7,961
- Code
- 72081
- Physician work
- 0.25
- Practice expense
- 1.04
- Malpractice
- 0.03
GPCI2026.csv
47
- Locality
- Idaho
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.920
- Malpractice
- 0.473
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.25 | × 1.000 | 0.2500 |
| Practice expense | 1.04 | × 0.920 | 0.9568 |
| Malpractice | 0.03 | × 0.473 | 0.0142 |
| Total RVUs | 1.2210 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Idaho$40.78
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.25 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 1.04 | 0.92 |
| Malpractice | 0.03 | 0.473 |
(0.25 × 1 + 1.04 × 0.92 + 0.03 × 0.473) × $33.4009 = $40.78
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.
72081 billing questions
When should this code be chosen over 72082?
Use this code for one view of the entire spine. Code 72082 represents an entire-spine study with two or three views.
Does a scoliosis diagnosis automatically support this code?
No. The documented study must cover the entire spine and consist of one view; the diagnosis alone does not determine the code.
Can the interpretation be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation and report. Without a modifier, the code represents the global service.
What does modifier TC represent?
Modifier TC identifies the technical portion, including the equipment and staff used to acquire the radiograph.
Are the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions separate units?
No. This code describes one view of the entire spine, not separate units for each spinal region included in that image.
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.
7,95872080,,X-ray exam thoracolmb 2/> vw,A,,0.20,0.83,,0.83,NA,0.02,1.05,1.05,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,2.72,2.72,0.05
7,95972080,26,X-ray exam thoracolmb 2/> vw,A,,0.20,0.09,,0.09,,0.01,0.30,0.30,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,96072080,TC,X-ray exam thoracolmb 2/> vw,A,,0.00,0.74,,0.74,NA,0.01,0.75,0.75,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,2.63,2.63,0.04
7,96172081,,X-ray exam entire spi 1 vw,A,,0.25,1.04,,1.04,NA,0.03,1.32,1.32,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,2.74,2.74,0.05
7,96272081,26,X-ray exam entire spi 1 vw,A,,0.25,0.11,,0.11,,0.02,0.38,0.38,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,96372081,TC,X-ray exam entire spi 1 vw,A,,0.00,0.93,,0.93,NA,0.01,0.94,0.94,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,2.63,2.63,0.03
7,96472082,,X-ray exam entire spi 2/3 vw,A,,0.30,1.82,,1.82,NA,0.03,2.15,2.15,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,3.31,3.31,0.04
4410212,GA,01,ATLANTA,1.003,1.016,1.201
4510212,GA,99,REST OF GEORGIA,1.000,0.892,1.192
4601212,HI,01,"HAWAII, GUAM",1.000,1.137,0.579
4702202,ID,00,IDAHO,1.000,0.920,0.473
4806102,IL,16,CHICAGO,1.007,1.005,2.295
4906102,IL,12,EAST ST. LOUIS,1.000,0.920,2.014
5006102,IL,15,SUBURBAN CHICAGO,1.007,1.027,1.772