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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

70544 Head MRA Medicare reimbursement rates in Maine

Reports magnetic resonance angiography of the intracranial vessels performed without contrast to evaluate suspected aneurysm, narrowing, or another vascular abnormality. Compare 70544 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Maine.

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 70544 in Maine?

Maine has 2 payment localities in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the 2 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.

Office / nonfacility

$199.72–$211.98

2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.

Lowest: Rest Of Maine

Highest: Southern Maine

A spread of $12.26 per service.

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.

Find 70544 in your payment locality →

Magnetic resonance imaging

About 70544: Head magnetic resonance angiography without contrast

Reports magnetic resonance angiography of the intracranial vessels performed without contrast to evaluate suspected aneurysm, narrowing, or another vascular abnormality.

This study uses magnetic resonance techniques to create angiographic images of blood vessels within the head without contrast material. It is commonly ordered to assess suspected intracranial aneurysm, vessel narrowing, or other vascular abnormalities. A technologist performs the scan in an imaging department or hospital, and a radiologist interprets the images and reports the findings. The study evaluates the intracranial vessels, rather than brain tissue as the primary target.

Report 70544 when the head angiographic examination is performed without contrast; use the applicable contrast-specific code when contrast is administered. Documentation should identify the head vessels examined, the imaging technique, contrast status, and the interpreting physician’s findings. The global service includes both the technical work of image acquisition and the professional interpretation. Modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical service. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are performed, the CMS multiple procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional components.

CMS billing rules for 70544

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 RVU1.17 · 18%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU5.16 · 80%
  • Malpractice RVU0.10 · 2%

167.8K

Medicare services in 2024 · #419 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.

70544 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Maine, from the same CMS release.

70545

Head MR angiography

With contrast

$210.47–$223.57

Choose 70545 when contrast is used for the head MRA; 70544 is for the head angiographic study without contrast.

70546

Head MR angiography

Without and with contrast

$304.10–$323.70

Choose 70546 when the head MRA includes imaging both without and with contrast. 70544 describes the study without contrast only.

70547

Neck MRA

Without contrast

$199.72–$211.98

70547 examines neck vessels without contrast. Use 70544 for angiographic imaging of vessels within the head.

70551

Brain MRI

Without contrast

$182.62–$192.87

70551 is an MRI of brain tissue without contrast; 70544 is an angiographic examination of intracranial vessels.

Compare 70544 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.

2 of 2 payment localities

Office and facility base rates · shared scale starting at $0

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70544 billing questions

How does 70544 differ from 70545?

70544 describes head MRA performed without contrast. Use 70545 when contrast is used for the head angiographic study.

When is 70546 used instead?

70546 is for head MRA performed both without and with contrast. It is not the code for a study performed only without contrast.

Can a brain MRI be reported with 70544?

A separately performed MRI of the brain may be reported when it is a distinct study, such as a brain MRI without contrast reported with 70551. The documentation should support both examinations.

How should the professional and technical services be billed?

Report 70544 without a component modifier for the global service. Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation or modifier TC for the technical service when those portions are billed separately.

Does the multiple imaging reduction affect 70544?

Yes. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are performed, the CMS multiple procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional components.

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.

RVUs for 70544PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,838 (RVU26D)