$27.59
This code is for a two-view elbow examination. Use 73090 when the study is centered on the radius and ulna.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
73090 Forearm X-ray Medicare reimbursement rates in New Mexico
A two-view radiographic study of the forearm evaluates the radius and ulna for suspected fracture, injury, pain, or other bone abnormality. Compare 73090 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in New Mexico.
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 73090 in New Mexico?
New Mexico 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
$27.28
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: New Mexico
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 73090: Forearm radiograph, two views
A two-view radiographic study of the forearm evaluates the radius and ulna for suspected fracture, injury, pain, or other bone abnormality.
This study uses X-rays to assess the radius and ulna, commonly after a fall or other injury, or for persistent forearm pain. Imaging is typically performed by a radiologic technologist in a hospital, emergency department, imaging center, or orthopedic clinic; a radiologist or other qualified practitioner interprets the images and reports the findings. The study focuses on the forearm rather than an isolated elbow, wrist, or upper-arm examination.
Report the code when the ordered and documented study consists of two forearm views. The record should support the clinical reason for imaging, the body site and side examined, the views obtained, and the interpretation. A claim without a component modifier represents the global service, including the imaging work and interpretation. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical service, such as equipment and staff. For bilateral examinations, CMS pays each side separately at 100%.
CMS billing rules for 73090
- 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.
- Bilateral procedures
- Each side is paid separately at 100% when performed bilaterally.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.16 · 18%
- Practice expense (office) RVU0.69 · 79%
- Malpractice RVU0.02 · 2%
230.1K
Medicare services in 2024 · #356 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.
73090 compared with similar codes
Office rates for New Mexico, from the same CMS release.
$30.98
This code is for an elbow study with three or more views. It is not a higher-view option for a forearm examination.
$30.04
This code evaluates the humerus in the upper arm; 73090 evaluates the radius and ulna in the forearm.
$39.87
This code evaluates the wrist with three or more views. Use 73090 for a two-view study centered on the forearm.
Compare 73090 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
New Mexico →
Office / nonfacility
$27.28
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 73090 in New Mexico.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
8,129
- Code
- 73090
- Physician work
- 0.16
- Practice expense
- 0.69
- Malpractice
- 0.02
GPCI2026.csv
77
- Locality
- New Mexico
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.917
- Malpractice
- 1.201
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.16 | × 1.000 | 0.1600 |
| Practice expense | 0.69 | × 0.917 | 0.6327 |
| Malpractice | 0.02 | × 1.201 | 0.0240 |
| Total RVUs | 0.8168 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, New Mexico$27.28
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.16 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 0.69 | 0.917 |
| Malpractice | 0.02 | 1.201 |
(0.16 × 1 + 0.69 × 0.917 + 0.02 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $27.28
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.
73090 billing questions
When should this code be chosen instead of an elbow or wrist X-ray code?
Use it for a two-view study centered on the radius and ulna. Choose an elbow or wrist code when the ordered and documented examination is of that joint.
Can the interpretation and imaging 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.
How is a bilateral forearm study reported?
CMS pays each side separately at 100% when both forearms are examined. Document the side examined for each service.
What documentation supports reporting this study?
Document the clinical indication, the forearm and side examined, the views obtained, and the interpretation. The record should show that the study evaluates the forearm rather than only the elbow or wrist.
Should this code be used for a study with more than two views?
This code represents a two-view forearm study. Confirm that the documented examination and applicable code descriptor match the number and type of views performed.
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.
8,12673085,,Contrast x-ray of elbow,A,,0.53,2.31,,2.31,NA,0.04,2.88,2.88,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,10.81,10.81,0.08
8,12773085,26,Contrast x-ray of elbow,A,,0.53,0.19,,0.19,,0.03,0.75,0.75,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,12873085,TC,Contrast x-ray of elbow,A,,0.00,2.12,,2.12,NA,0.01,2.13,2.13,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,03,0,99,10.62,10.62,0.05
8,12973090,,X-ray exam of forearm,A,,0.16,0.69,,0.69,NA,0.02,0.87,0.87,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,2.68,2.68,0.05
8,13073090,26,X-ray exam of forearm,A,,0.16,0.06,,0.06,,0.01,0.23,0.23,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,13173090,TC,X-ray exam of forearm,A,,0.00,0.63,,0.63,NA,0.01,0.64,0.64,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,2.62,2.62,0.04
8,13273092,,X-ray exam of arm infant,A,,0.16,0.74,,0.74,NA,0.02,0.92,0.92,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,3.21,3.21,0.06
7414312,NH,40,NEW HAMPSHIRE,1.000,1.041,0.875
7512402,NJ,01,NORTHERN NJ,1.063,1.160,1.068
7612402,NJ,99,REST OF NEW JERSEY,1.040,1.092,1.097
7704212,NM,05,NEW MEXICO,1.000,0.917,1.201
7813202,NY,01,MANHATTAN,1.064,1.162,1.586
7913202,NY,02,NYC SUBURBS/LONG ISLAND,1.064,1.189,1.857
8013202,NY,03,POUGHKPSIE/N NYC SUBURBS,1.045,1.095,1.210