$39.85
This code targets the middle ear; 70120 is for mastoid radiography with fewer views. Choose according to the region examined.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
70134 Middle-ear X-ray Medicare reimbursement rates in Rhode Island
Reports radiographic imaging directed at the middle ear when a clinician requests a focused X-ray examination of that region. Compare 70134 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Rhode Island.
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 70134 in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island 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
$62.89
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Rhode Island
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 70134: Middle-ear radiographic examination
Reports radiographic imaging directed at the middle ear when a clinician requests a focused X-ray examination of that region.
This service covers radiographic imaging focused on the middle-ear region. It may be ordered during an otologic workup when a clinician needs X-ray assessment of that area. Imaging is typically acquired by radiology staff in a hospital or other diagnostic imaging setting, with a radiologist or other qualified practitioner interpreting the study. The code identifies the target of the examination; it is distinct from radiographs directed at the mastoids, facial bones, or jaw.
Report the service when the images and order support a middle-ear examination, rather than an examination of an adjacent structure. The record should identify the clinical reason for imaging and support the body region examined; the interpretation should be documented when that service is billed. CMS recognizes separately priced professional and technical components: append modifier 26 for the interpretation, modifier TC for equipment and staff, or report the global service without either modifier.
CMS billing rules for 70134
- 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.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.33 · 18%
- Practice expense (office) RVU1.48 · 81%
- Malpractice RVU0.02 · 1%
16
Medicare services in 2024 · #6051 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.
70134 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Rhode Island, from the same CMS release.
$62.85
This code targets the middle ear; 70130 is for mastoid radiography with more views. The imaging target, not simply an ear-related diagnosis, guides selection.
$162.54
70134 reports radiographic imaging of the middle-ear region. 70480 reports CT without contrast for the specified orbit, sella, posterior fossa, or ear region.
Compare 70134 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
Rhode Island →
Office / nonfacility
$62.89
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 70134 in Rhode Island.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
7,698
- Code
- 70134
- Physician work
- 0.33
- Practice expense
- 1.48
- Malpractice
- 0.02
GPCI2026.csv
92
- Locality
- Rhode Island
- Physician work
- 1.019
- Practice expense
- 1.033
- Malpractice
- 0.892
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.33 | × 1.019 | 0.3363 |
| Practice expense | 1.48 | × 1.033 | 1.5288 |
| Malpractice | 0.02 | × 0.892 | 0.0178 |
| Total RVUs | 1.8829 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Rhode Island$62.89
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.33 | 1.019 |
| Practice expense | 1.48 | 1.033 |
| Malpractice | 0.02 | 0.892 |
(0.33 × 1.019 + 1.48 × 1.033 + 0.02 × 0.892) × $33.4009 = $62.89
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.
70134 billing questions
How is this different from a mastoid X-ray?
This code is for imaging directed at the middle ear. Use a mastoid radiography code when the examination is directed at the mastoid region.
Can the interpretation and image acquisition be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the code represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The order and imaging documentation should support a middle-ear examination, and the record should state the clinical reason for the study. Document the interpretation when billing the professional component.
Should modifier 26 be used when the radiologist only interprets the images?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional component when billing for interpretation separately from the technical service.
Is this the right code for facial or jaw imaging?
No. This code identifies a middle-ear examination. Facial-bone and jaw radiographs have separate codes based on the body region examined.
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.
7,69570130,,X-ray exam of mastoids,A,,0.33,1.47,,1.47,NA,0.03,1.83,1.83,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,3.30,3.30,0.04
7,69670130,26,X-ray exam of mastoids,A,,0.33,0.13,,0.13,,0.02,0.48,0.48,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,69770130,TC,X-ray exam of mastoids,A,,0.00,1.34,,1.34,NA,0.01,1.35,1.35,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,3.17,3.17,0.02
7,69870134,,X-ray exam of middle ear,A,,0.33,1.48,,1.48,NA,0.02,1.83,1.83,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,16.75,16.75,0.14
7,69970134,26,X-ray exam of middle ear,A,,0.33,0.16,,0.16,,0.01,0.50,0.50,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
7,70070134,TC,X-ray exam of middle ear,A,,0.00,1.32,,1.32,NA,0.01,1.33,1.33,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,16.59,16.59,0.13
7,70170140,,X-ray exam of facial bones,A,,0.19,0.74,,0.74,NA,0.02,0.95,0.95,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,2.71,2.71,0.05
8912502,PA,01,METROPOLITAN PHILADELPHIA,1.018,1.041,1.193
9012502,PA,99,REST OF PENNSYLVANIA,1.000,0.918,0.945
9109202,PR,20,PUERTO RICO,1.000,1.011,0.985
9214412,RI,01,RHODE ISLAND,1.019,1.033,0.892
9311202,SC,01,SOUTH CAROLINA,1.000,0.924,0.850
9403402,SD,02,SOUTH DAKOTA**,1.000,1.000,0.336
9510312,TN,35,TENNESSEE,1.000,0.909,0.537