$157.73
Choose 72129 when contrast is used for the thoracic spine CT; 72128 is for a study without contrast.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
72128 Spine CT Medicare reimbursement rates in Nebraska
A noncontrast CT of the thoracic spine captures detailed bony anatomy, often for suspected fracture or evaluation of other thoracic spinal abnormalities. Compare 72128 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Nebraska.
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 72128 in Nebraska?
Nebraska 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
$121.48
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Nebraska
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.
Diagnostic imaging
About 72128: Thoracic spine CT without contrast
A noncontrast CT of the thoracic spine captures detailed bony anatomy, often for suspected fracture or evaluation of other thoracic spinal abnormalities.
This study uses computed tomography to create cross-sectional images of the thoracic spine without contrast material. It is commonly performed in a hospital or imaging center when clinicians need detailed bony evaluation, such as after trauma with suspected vertebral fracture or when radiographs do not adequately show a thoracic spinal abnormality. A radiologist interprets the images; the technical service includes the scanner, acquisition, and supporting staff.
Report this code for a thoracic spine CT performed without contrast, not for a cervical or lumbar study or a scan that includes contrast. The imaging report and order should support the body region and contrast protocol. A claim without a component modifier represents the global service; modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. When multiple diagnostic imaging procedures are reported, CMS applies the multiple-procedure reduction to both the professional and technical components.
CMS billing rules for 72128
- 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 RVU0.98 · 25%
- Practice expense (office) RVU2.85 · 73%
- Malpractice RVU0.07 · 2%
243.1K
Medicare services in 2024 · #349 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.
72128 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Nebraska, from the same CMS release.
$184.37
72130 applies when the thoracic spine is imaged both without and with contrast. 72128 applies when the study is performed only without contrast.
$177.61
72146 describes thoracic spine MRI without contrast, not CT. Select based on the imaging modality actually performed.
Compare 72128 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
Nebraska →
Office / nonfacility
$121.48
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 72128 in Nebraska.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
7,994
- Code
- 72128
- Physician work
- 0.98
- Practice expense
- 2.85
- Malpractice
- 0.07
GPCI2026.csv
72
- Locality
- Nebraska
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.923
- Malpractice
- 0.378
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.98 | × 1.000 | 0.9800 |
| Practice expense | 2.85 | × 0.923 | 2.6306 |
| Malpractice | 0.07 | × 0.378 | 0.0265 |
| Total RVUs | 3.6370 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Nebraska$121.48
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.98 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 2.85 | 0.923 |
| Malpractice | 0.07 | 0.378 |
(0.98 × 1 + 2.85 × 0.923 + 0.07 × 0.378) × $33.4009 = $121.48
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.
72128 billing questions
When should 72128 be chosen over 72129 or 72130?
Use 72128 when the thoracic spine CT is performed without contrast. 72129 describes a contrast study, while 72130 is for a study performed both without and with contrast.
Can the interpretation and scanner service be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Does the multiple-procedure reduction affect only the technical component?
No. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction to both the professional and technical components.
What documentation supports reporting 72128?
The order and imaging report should support a thoracic spine CT performed without contrast. The report should identify the thoracic region examined and document the findings.
Is a thoracic spine MRI reported with 72128?
No. 72128 is for CT; thoracic spine MRI is reported with the applicable MRI code, such as 72146 for a study without contrast.
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.
7,99172127,,Ct neck spine w/o & w/dye,A,,1.24,4.54,,4.54,NA,0.09,5.87,5.87,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,5.77,5.77,0.10
7,99272127,26,Ct neck spine w/o & w/dye,A,,1.24,0.43,,0.43,,0.07,1.74,1.74,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,99372127,TC,Ct neck spine w/o & w/dye,A,,0.00,4.11,,4.11,NA,0.02,4.13,4.13,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,88,5.34,5.34,0.03
7,99472128,,Ct chest spine w/o dye,A,,0.98,2.85,,2.85,NA,0.07,3.90,3.90,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,3.53,3.53,0.07
7,99572128,26,Ct chest spine w/o dye,A,,0.98,0.35,,0.35,,0.06,1.39,1.39,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,99672128,TC,Ct chest spine w/o dye,A,,0.00,2.50,,2.50,NA,0.01,2.51,2.51,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,88,3.18,3.18,0.01
7,99772129,,Ct chest spine w/dye,A,,1.19,3.79,,3.79,NA,0.09,5.07,5.07,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,5.75,5.75,0.10
6905302,MO,01,METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS,1.000,0.952,1.002
7005302,MO,99,REST OF MISSOURI,1.000,0.862,0.974
7103202,MT,01,MONTANA**,1.000,1.000,0.998
7205402,NE,00,NEBRASKA,1.000,0.923,0.378
7301312,NV,00,NEVADA**,1.000,1.001,0.833
7414312,NH,40,NEW HAMPSHIRE,1.000,1.041,0.875
7512402,NJ,01,NORTHERN NJ,1.063,1.160,1.068