Billing code 78071: Parathyroid imagingMedicare rate & RVUs in Oklahoma
Reports planar nuclear imaging of the parathyroid glands, with or without subtraction, to help localize abnormal gland tissue in patients with suspected hyperparathyroidism.
Medicare pays $280.25 for 78071 in the office in Oklahoma (Oklahoma). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 78071 covers
This service uses radiotracer imaging to evaluate the parathyroid glands, commonly when laboratory findings suggest hyperparathyroidism and localization is needed before a possible operation. The study uses planar images and may use subtraction to help distinguish parathyroid activity from nearby thyroid tissue. Nuclear medicine technologists acquire the images; a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician interprets them, usually in an imaging department or hospital.
Report 78071 for the planar parathyroid study, whether subtraction is performed or not. The record should support the clinical indication and identify the imaging protocol and interpretation. When the study includes SPECT with CT, consider the distinct code 78072 rather than this planar service. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.
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.
78071 in Oklahoma
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $280.25 | Unavailable |
How the 78071 rate is calculated
Each of 78071’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 78071
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.17Practice expense 7.99Malpractice 0.11
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78071
The CMS indicators that decide how 78071 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78071
Parathyroid imaging
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
78071 without 26 · national office
$309.63
Parathyroid imaging
78071-26 · Professional component
$54.11
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78071 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
78071 vs 78070 vs 78072 vs 78099: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 78070Parathyroid imaging
- Both are in the parathyroid imaging family. For 78071, the descriptor specifically covers planar imaging with or without subtraction; verify the documented service against the applicable descriptor for 78070.
- 78072Parathyroid imaging
- 78072 describes parathyroid imaging that includes SPECT with CT. Report 78071 for the planar study with or without subtraction.
- 78099Unlisted endocrine px dx nuc
- 78099 is an unlisted endocrine nuclear medicine diagnostic code. Use 78071 when the service is the specified planar parathyroid study.
78071 billing questions
How does 78071 differ from 78070?
78071 specifically describes planar parathyroid imaging with or without subtraction. Check the documented procedure and applicable code descriptors when distinguishing it from 78070.
When should 78072 be reported instead?
Use 78072 when the parathyroid study includes SPECT with CT. A planar study with or without subtraction is described by 78071.
Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 reports the professional interpretation, and modifier TC reports the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports 78071?
Document the clinical reason for evaluating the parathyroid glands, the planar imaging protocol, whether subtraction was performed, and the interpreting physician's findings.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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