$281.45
Both cover cervical spine MRI, but 72142 is for imaging with contrast; this code is for imaging without contrast.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
72141 Cervical MRI Medicare reimbursement rates in Rhode Island
Reports an MRI study of the cervical spine performed without contrast, commonly used to evaluate suspected disc, nerve, or spinal cord conditions. Compare 72141 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 72141 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
$195.87
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 72141: Cervical spine MRI without contrast
Reports an MRI study of the cervical spine performed without contrast, commonly used to evaluate suspected disc, nerve, or spinal cord conditions.
This service covers magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine without contrast material. The study produces detailed images of the neck portion of the spine and surrounding structures, often to assess symptoms such as neck pain with radiating arm symptoms, suspected disc disease, or possible spinal cord or nerve-root compression. A technologist typically performs the scan in an imaging center or hospital, and a radiologist interprets the images.
Select this code when the documented study is of the cervical spine and is performed without contrast; use a different code when contrast is administered or the study includes both pre- and post-contrast imaging. The order and report should identify the cervical region, the protocol performed, and the clinical reason for imaging. Bill without a component modifier for the global service, or use modifier 26 for the interpretation or TC for the technical service. When the diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction applies, it affects both the technical and professional components.
CMS billing rules for 72141
- 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 RVU1.44 · 25%
- Practice expense (office) RVU4.17 · 73%
- Malpractice RVU0.10 · 2%
630.4K
Medicare services in 2024 · #201 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.
72141 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Rhode Island, from the same CMS release.
$326.67
Use 72156 when the cervical study includes imaging both before and after contrast. Use this code when the study is performed without contrast.
$134.12
Both evaluate the cervical spine without contrast, but 72125 is a CT study and this code is an MRI study.
Compare 72141 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
$195.87
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 72141 in Rhode Island.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
8,012
- Code
- 72141
- Physician work
- 1.44
- Practice expense
- 4.17
- Malpractice
- 0.10
GPCI2026.csv
92
- Locality
- Rhode Island
- Physician work
- 1.019
- Practice expense
- 1.033
- Malpractice
- 0.892
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 1.44 | × 1.019 | 1.4674 |
| Practice expense | 4.17 | × 1.033 | 4.3076 |
| Malpractice | 0.10 | × 0.892 | 0.0892 |
| Total RVUs | 5.8642 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Rhode Island$195.87
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.44 | 1.019 |
| Practice expense | 4.17 | 1.033 |
| Malpractice | 0.1 | 0.892 |
(1.44 × 1.019 + 4.17 × 1.033 + 0.1 × 0.892) × $33.4009 = $195.87
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.
72141 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 72142?
Use 72141 for a cervical spine MRI performed without contrast. Code 72142 describes the cervical study performed with contrast.
When does 72156 apply instead?
Use 72156 when the cervical MRI includes imaging both without and with contrast. This code is for the study without contrast only.
Can the interpretation and scan be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Can the multiple imaging reduction affect this service?
When the diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction applies, it affects both the technical and professional components of this service.
How does this differ from a cervical spine CT?
This code is for MRI without contrast. Code 72125 is for cervical spine CT without contrast, a different imaging modality.
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.
8,00972133,,Ct lumbar spine w/o & w/dye,A,,1.24,4.56,,4.56,NA,0.09,5.89,5.89,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,5.78,5.78,0.10
8,01072133,26,Ct lumbar spine w/o & w/dye,A,,1.24,0.44,,0.44,,0.07,1.75,1.75,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,88,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,01172133,TC,Ct lumbar spine w/o & w/dye,A,,0.00,4.12,,4.12,NA,0.02,4.14,4.14,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,4,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,02,0,88,5.34,5.34,0.03
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
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