Billing code 72080: Spine X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs in Rhode Island
Reports standing X-rays of the thoracolumbar spine, typically obtained to assess spinal alignment or scoliosis across the thoracic and lumbar junction.
Medicare pays $36.04 for 72080 in the office in Rhode Island (Rhode Island). 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 72080 covers
This exam captures standing radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine, generally in two or three views, to show alignment across the junction of the thoracic and lumbar regions. It is commonly ordered when a clinician is evaluating scoliosis or another alignment concern involving that area. A radiologic technologist obtains the images in an office or imaging facility; a qualified practitioner interprets them.
Select this code when the documented exam covers the thoracolumbar region and the images meet the code’s view count. The order and imaging report should support the anatomy examined, standing technique, number of views, and clinical reason, such as scoliosis assessment. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff service, 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.
72080 in Rhode Island
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $36.04 | Unavailable |
How the 72080 rate is calculated
Each of 72080’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 · 72080
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.20Practice expense 0.83Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 72080
The CMS indicators that decide how 72080 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 72080
Spine X-ray
| 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
72080 without 26 · national office
$35.07
Spine X-ray
72080-26 · Professional component
$10.02
Pays only the interpretation and report.
72080 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
72080 vs 72070 vs 72074 vs 72082: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 72070Thoracic spine X-ray
- 72070 is a two-view thoracic-spine exam. Choose 72080 when standing images cover the thoracolumbar region.
- 72074Thoracic spine X-ray
- 72074 describes four or more views of the thoracic spine. It does not represent the thoracolumbar standing exam described by 72080.
- 72082Spine X-ray
- 72082 covers the entire spine in two or three views; 72080 is limited to the thoracolumbar region.
72080 billing questions
How does this differ from a whole-spine scoliosis exam?
This code is for standing imaging of the thoracolumbar region. Use a whole-spine code, such as 72082, when the exam covers the entire spine.
Which view count belongs to this code?
The code describes a standing thoracolumbar exam with two or three views. Check the imaging record for the documented views and anatomic coverage.
Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 reports the professional interpretation, and modifier TC reports the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting this exam?
The order and report should identify the thoracolumbar coverage, standing technique, views obtained, and reason for imaging, such as evaluation of spinal alignment or scoliosis.
Should each image or view be billed as a separate service?
No. Report the exam as one service using the code that matches its anatomic coverage and view count, rather than billing each view separately.
When is a thoracic-spine code more appropriate?
Choose a thoracic-spine code when the documented exam is limited to the thoracic spine. This code is for imaging that covers the thoracolumbar region.
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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