$179.11–$197.94
72141 is for a cervical spine MRI without contrast; 72142 is for contrast-only imaging.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
72142 Spine MRI Medicare reimbursement rates in Pennsylvania
Reports MRI examination of the cervical spine performed after contrast administration, commonly to assess enhancing abnormalities such as suspected infection, tumor, or postoperative change. Compare 72142 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Pennsylvania.
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 72142 in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 2 payment localities in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the 2 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$256.32–$284.49
2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.
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 72142: Cervical spine MRI with contrast
Reports MRI examination of the cervical spine performed after contrast administration, commonly to assess enhancing abnormalities such as suspected infection, tumor, or postoperative change.
This service is an MRI examination of the cervical spine using contrast, with images acquired after contrast administration. It may be used to evaluate enhancing abnormalities, including suspected infection, tumor, or postoperative change. MRI technologists perform the scan in a hospital or freestanding imaging center, and a radiologist interprets the images.
Report 72142 when the documented cervical spine protocol includes contrast imaging only. If the study includes both precontrast and postcontrast imaging, use the code for that combined protocol instead; a study performed without contrast is coded separately. The report should identify the cervical region and the contrast protocol performed. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, modifier TC identifies the technical service, and an unmodified claim represents the global service. When multiple diagnostic imaging services are performed, the CMS multiple procedure reduction applies to both the professional and technical components.
CMS billing rules for 72142
- 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 RVU1.74 · 21%
- Practice expense (office) RVU6.32 · 77%
- Malpractice RVU0.14 · 2%
2.4K
Medicare services in 2024 · #2334 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.
72142 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Pennsylvania, from the same CMS release.
$298.15–$330.11
72156 describes a cervical MRI with both precontrast and postcontrast imaging. Choose 72142 when the protocol is contrast-only.
$157.88–$174.79
72126 is a cervical spine CT with contrast, not an MRI. The modality documented as performed determines which code applies.
Compare 72142 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.
2 of 2 payment localities
Metropolitan Philadelphia →
Office / nonfacility
$284.49
Facility
Unavailable
Rest Of Pennsylvania →
Office / nonfacility
$256.32
Facility
Unavailable
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72142 billing questions
How does 72142 differ from 72141?
72142 represents a cervical MRI performed with contrast only. Use 72141 when the documented study is performed without contrast.
When should 72156 be used instead?
Use 72156 when the cervical MRI includes both precontrast and postcontrast imaging. Do not select 72142 merely because contrast was used if the study also includes precontrast imaging.
What do modifiers 26 and TC identify?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 72142?
The imaging report and order should support a cervical spine MRI and show that the performed protocol used contrast without precontrast imaging. The findings should correspond to the cervical region examined.
How does the multiple procedure reduction affect this service?
When multiple diagnostic imaging services are performed, CMS applies the multiple procedure reduction to both the professional and technical components of 72142.
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.
8,01272141,,Mri neck spine w/o dye,A,,1.44,4.17,,4.17,NA,0.10,5.71,5.71,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,7.78,7.78,0.12
8,01372141,26,Mri neck spine w/o dye,A,,1.44,0.52,,0.52,,0.08,2.04,2.04,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,01472141,TC,Mri neck spine w/o dye,A,,0.00,3.65,,3.65,NA,0.02,3.67,3.67,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,88,7.26,7.26,0.04
8,01572142,,Mri neck spine w/dye,A,,1.74,6.32,,6.32,NA,0.14,8.20,8.20,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,11.24,11.24,0.17
8,01672142,26,Mri neck spine w/dye,A,,1.74,0.63,,0.63,,0.11,2.48,2.48,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,01772142,TC,Mri neck spine w/dye,A,,0.00,5.69,,5.69,NA,0.03,5.72,5.72,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,88,10.61,10.61,0.06
8,01872146,,Mri chest spine w/o dye,A,,1.44,4.16,,4.16,NA,0.10,5.70,5.70,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,7.78,7.78,0.12