Billing code 74019: Abdominal X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Report this abdominal radiographic examination when two views are obtained to assess findings such as bowel obstruction, ileus, or suspected free air.
Medicare pays $34.01–$37.40 for 74019 in the office in Illinois, from Rest Of Illinois to Suburban Chicago. 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 74019 covers
This examination uses two abdominal X-ray views to evaluate the distribution of gas, bowel dilation, fluid levels, or other visible abdominal findings. A common approach uses a supine view with an upright or decubitus view when clinically useful. It is performed in settings such as an imaging department, emergency department, or hospital unit, with a radiologic technologist acquiring the images and a physician interpreting them.
Select the code based on the number of abdominal views obtained, not the suspected diagnosis alone. The record should support the examination performed, the views acquired, and the interpreting physician’s findings. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.
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 74019 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$34.01 to $37.40
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $37.13 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $34.51 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $34.01 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $37.40 | Unavailable |
How the 74019 rate is calculated
Each of 74019’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 · 74019
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.22Practice expense 0.84Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 74019
The CMS indicators that decide how 74019 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 74019
Abdominal X-ray
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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
74019 without 26 · national office
$36.07
Abdominal X-ray
74019-26 · Professional component
$10.69
Pays only the interpretation and report.
74019 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
74019 vs 74018 vs 74021 vs 74022: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 74018Abdomen X-ray
- Choose 74018 for one abdominal view; 74019 is for two views.
- 74021Abdominal X-ray
- Choose 74021 when three or more abdominal views are obtained; 74019 represents two.
- 74022Abdominal X-ray
- 74022 is for a complete acute abdomen series that includes a chest view. Use 74019 for a two-view abdominal examination without that broader series.
74019 billing questions
When should 74019 be chosen over 74018?
Use 74019 when two abdominal views are obtained. Use 74018 when the examination consists of one view.
How does 74019 differ from 74021?
The distinction is the number of abdominal views: two for 74019 and three or more for 74021.
When is 74022 a better fit?
74022 describes a complete acute abdomen series that includes a chest view along with abdominal views. Choose it when that broader series is performed rather than a two-view abdominal examination alone.
Can the interpretation and image acquisition be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical portion. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting two views?
Document the abdominal examination and the two views obtained. The radiology report should support the physician’s interpretation of the images.
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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