Billing code 74018: Abdomen X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs in Virginia
Report 74018 for a single-view abdominal radiograph, commonly called a KUB, obtained to assess bowel gas patterns, radiopaque stones, or tube position.
Medicare pays $29.14–$34.23 for 74018 in the office in Virginia, from Virginia to Dc + Md/Va Suburbs. 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 74018 covers
A technologist obtains one projection of the abdomen, commonly a supine kidney-ureter-bladder (KUB) view, in an office, imaging center, emergency department, or at the bedside. Clinicians order it to evaluate bowel gas in suspected obstruction or ileus, locate radiopaque urinary stones or ingested objects, and check enteric tube position when the anatomy needed for confirmation is visible. A radiologist or other qualified interpreting physician reviews the images and documents findings. More than one exposure may be needed to cover the abdomen without creating another view.
Select 74018 by the number of abdominal projections, not the number of images or findings; document the projection obtained and its interpretation. Two abdominal views belong to 74019, three or more to 74021, and a complete acute abdomen series with chest imaging belongs to 74022. Medicare prices the interpretation separately with modifier 26 and the equipment and staff portion with modifier TC. Bill the combined service without a component modifier when the same billing entity provides both portions. For hospital imaging, the physician generally reports modifier 26; the facility reports its technical 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.
Where 74018 pays more and less in Virginia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $34.23 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $29.14 | Unavailable |
How the 74018 rate is calculated
Each of 74018’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 · 74018
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.18
0.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.69
0.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.8900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$29.73
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 74018
The CMS indicators that decide how 74018 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 74018
Abdomen 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
74018 without 26 · national office
$29.73
Abdomen X-ray
74018-26 · Professional component
$8.68
Pays only the interpretation and report.
74018 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 74019Abdominal X-ray
- Count abdominal projections rather than exposures: one view is 74018; two views are 74019.
- 74021Abdominal X-ray
- Use 74021 for three or more abdominal views rather than the single view covered by 74018. A complete acute abdomen series with a chest view is reported with 74022.
- 74022Abdominal X-ray
- 74022 describes a complete acute abdomen series with multiple abdominal views and a chest view. A single abdominal view, with or without a separately ordered chest film, is not that series.
74018 billing questions
When should 74018 be reported instead of the two-view code?
Report 74018 for one abdominal projection. If a second projection, such as an upright or decubitus view, is obtained, use 74019 instead.
Which modifier does a radiologist interpreting a hospital film use?
The interpreting physician appends modifier 26 to report the interpretation and signed report. The hospital reports its technical service on the facility claim.
Can a single-view abdomen and a single-view chest be reported together?
When separately ordered and performed as distinct exams, report the one-view abdomen with 74018 and the one-view chest with 71045. A complete acute abdomen series with multiple abdominal views and a chest view is reported with 74022.
Do multiple images of the same abdominal projection count as multiple views?
No. If additional images extend coverage of the same projection, select 74018 based on the single view rather than the number of exposures.
How is the technical portion of a one-view abdominal study reported?
The entity furnishing the equipment and staff reports 74018 with modifier TC when billing only that portion. An entity furnishing both the technical service and interpretation reports 74018 without a component modifier.
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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