$150.25
Choose 74280 for the double-contrast barium-and-air technique. Code 74270 is for a single-contrast colon examination.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
74280 Colon X-ray Medicare reimbursement rates in Minnesota
A radiologist uses fluoroscopy and barium plus air to examine the colon when diagnostic imaging of its structure is needed. Compare 74280 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Minnesota.
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 74280 in Minnesota?
Minnesota 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
$214.16
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Minnesota
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 74280: Double-contrast colon radiographic study
A radiologist uses fluoroscopy and barium plus air to examine the colon when diagnostic imaging of its structure is needed.
This examination uses fluoroscopy and radiographs to evaluate the colon after contrast is introduced through the rectum. Barium outlines the bowel, and air helps show the inner surface. A radiologist typically performs and interprets the study in a hospital radiology department or imaging center. It may be selected when a structural assessment of the colon is needed and colonoscopy is incomplete or not suitable. Scout or delayed images, when obtained as part of the examination, are included in the study.
Report 74280 for the double-contrast technique, rather than the single-contrast colon examination represented by 74270. The imaging report should support the indication, technique used, and findings. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: report modifier 26 for the physician’s interpretation, modifier TC for the equipment and staff, or neither modifier when billing the global service. The professional and technical components are separately priced when billed with their respective modifiers.
CMS billing rules for 74280
- 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 RVU1.23 · 19%
- Practice expense (office) RVU5.01 · 79%
- Malpractice RVU0.09 · 1%
3.4K
Medicare services in 2024 · #2096 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.
74280 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Minnesota, from the same CMS release.
74261
No office rateCt colonography dx
74261 is diagnostic CT colonography without contrast. Code 74280 is a fluoroscopic examination using barium and air.
74263
No office rateCt colonography screening
74263 is for screening CT colonography. Code 74280 describes a diagnostic fluoroscopic colon study, not CT screening.
Compare 74280 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
Minnesota →
Office / nonfacility
$214.16
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 74280 in Minnesota.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
8,381
- Code
- 74280
- Physician work
- 1.23
- Practice expense
- 5.01
- Malpractice
- 0.09
GPCI2026.csv
66
- Locality
- Minnesota
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 1.029
- Malpractice
- 0.296
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 1.23 | × 1.000 | 1.2300 |
| Practice expense | 5.01 | × 1.029 | 5.1553 |
| Malpractice | 0.09 | × 0.296 | 0.0266 |
| Total RVUs | 6.4119 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Minnesota$214.16
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.23 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 5.01 | 1.029 |
| Malpractice | 0.09 | 0.296 |
(1.23 × 1 + 5.01 × 1.029 + 0.09 × 0.296) × $33.4009 = $214.16
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.
74280 billing questions
How does 74280 differ from 74270?
74280 describes a double-contrast colon study using barium and air. Use 74270 for the single-contrast colon examination.
Can the interpretation and imaging service be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.
Are scout or delayed images separately reported?
Scout abdominal radiographs and delayed images obtained as part of this colon examination are included in the study.
What documentation supports 74280?
The record should identify the diagnostic reason for examining the colon, document the double-contrast technique, and include the radiologist’s findings.
When might CT colonography be considered instead?
CT colonography codes 74261 and 74262 describe a different imaging method for diagnostic colon evaluation; 74280 is the fluoroscopic barium-and-air examination.
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.
8,37874270,,X-ray xm colon 1cntrst std,A,,1.01,3.37,,3.37,NA,0.07,4.45,4.45,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,5.71,5.71,0.08
8,37974270,26,X-ray xm colon 1cntrst std,A,,1.01,0.36,,0.36,,0.06,1.43,1.43,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,38074270,TC,X-ray xm colon 1cntrst std,A,,0.00,3.01,,3.01,NA,0.01,3.02,3.02,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,03,0,99,5.35,5.35,0.02
8,38174280,,X-ray xm colon 2cntrst std,A,,1.23,5.01,,5.01,NA,0.09,6.33,6.33,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,5.77,5.77,0.09
8,38274280,26,X-ray xm colon 2cntrst std,A,,1.23,0.43,,0.43,,0.07,1.73,1.73,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,38374280,TC,X-ray xm colon 2cntrst std,A,,0.00,4.58,,4.58,NA,0.02,4.60,4.60,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,03,0,99,5.34,5.34,0.02
8,38474283,,Ther nma rdctj intus/obstrcj,A,,1.97,6.29,,6.29,NA,0.13,8.39,8.39,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,6.34,6.34,0.13
6314212,MA,99,REST OF MASSACHUSETTS,1.016,1.053,0.797
6408202,MI,01,DETROIT,1.000,0.965,1.686
6508202,MI,99,REST OF MICHIGAN,1.000,0.913,1.129
6606202,MN,00,MINNESOTA,1.000,1.029,0.296
6707302,MS,00,MISSISSIPPI,1.000,0.861,0.739
6805302,MO,02,METROPOLITAN KANSAS CITY,1.000,0.939,0.977
6905302,MO,01,METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS,1.000,0.952,1.002