$210.47
Choose 70545 when contrast is used for the head MRA; 70544 is for the head angiographic study without contrast.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
70544 Head MRA Medicare reimbursement rates in Ohio
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 Ohio.
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 Ohio?
Ohio 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
$199.80
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Ohio
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.
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 Ohio, from the same CMS release.
$303.72
Choose 70546 when the head MRA includes imaging both without and with contrast. 70544 describes the study without contrast only.
$199.80
70547 examines neck vessels without contrast. Use 70544 for angiographic imaging of vessels within the head.
$182.90
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.
1 of 1 payment localities
Ohio →
Office / nonfacility
$199.80
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 70544 in Ohio.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
7,838
- Code
- 70544
- Physician work
- 1.17
- Practice expense
- 5.16
- Malpractice
- 0.10
GPCI2026.csv
85
- Locality
- Ohio
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.913
- Malpractice
- 1.008
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 1.17 | × 1.000 | 1.1700 |
| Practice expense | 5.16 | × 0.913 | 4.7111 |
| Malpractice | 0.10 | × 1.008 | 0.1008 |
| Total RVUs | 5.9819 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Ohio$199.80
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.17 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 5.16 | 0.913 |
| Malpractice | 0.1 | 1.008 |
(1.17 × 1 + 5.16 × 0.913 + 0.1 × 1.008) × $33.4009 = $199.80
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.
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.
7,83570543,,Mri orbt/fac/nck w/o &w/dye,A,,2.10,7.84,,7.84,NA,0.15,10.09,10.09,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,11.37,11.37,0.17
7,83670543,26,Mri orbt/fac/nck w/o &w/dye,A,,2.10,0.74,,0.74,,0.12,2.96,2.96,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,83770543,TC,Mri orbt/fac/nck w/o &w/dye,A,,0.00,7.10,,7.10,NA,0.03,7.13,7.13,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,88,10.63,10.63,0.05
7,83870544,,Mr angiography head w/o dye,A,,1.17,5.16,,5.16,NA,0.10,6.43,6.43,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,7.66,7.66,0.12
7,83970544,26,Mr angiography head w/o dye,A,,1.17,0.41,,0.41,,0.07,1.65,1.65,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,84070544,TC,Mr angiography head w/o dye,A,,0.00,4.75,,4.75,NA,0.03,4.78,4.78,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,88,7.25,7.25,0.05
7,84170545,,Mr angiography head w/dye,A,,1.17,5.51,,5.51,NA,0.10,6.78,6.78,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,11.02,11.02,0.13
8213282,NY,99,REST OF NEW YORK,1.000,0.950,0.703
8311502,NC,00,NORTH CAROLINA,1.000,0.933,0.639
8403302,ND,01,NORTH DAKOTA**,1.000,1.000,0.406
8515202,OH,00,OHIO,1.000,0.913,1.008
8604312,OK,00,OKLAHOMA,1.000,0.893,0.777
8702302,OR,01,PORTLAND,1.016,1.111,0.744
8802302,OR,99,REST OF OREGON,1.000,0.996,0.703