Billing code 70240: X-ray examMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports conventional radiographic imaging focused on the bony sella turcica when a clinician evaluates sellar contour or suspected bony change.
Medicare pays $33.32–$37.95 for 70240 in the office in Washington, from Rest Of Washington to Seattle (King Cnty). 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 70240 covers
This service is a conventional X-ray examination centered on the sella turcica, the bony space that houses the pituitary gland. It can show the shape and outline of the sella and related bony changes, but it does not directly characterize pituitary soft tissue. A referring clinician may request it when evaluating suspected sellar enlargement or another concern involving the bony sellar region. Radiologists interpret the images in hospital or outpatient imaging settings; some practices perform the study in the office.
Report this code for imaging focused on the sella, rather than a broader skull examination. The order and report should identify the sellar indication and document the examination and interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. The professional and technical portions may be billed separately when performed by different entities.
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 70240 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $33.32 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $37.95 | Unavailable |
How the 70240 rate is calculated
Each of 70240’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 · 70240
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.19
0.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.75
0.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.9600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$32.06
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70240
The CMS indicators that decide how 70240 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70240
X-ray exam
| 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
70240 without 26 · national office
$32.06
X-ray exam
70240-26 · Professional component
$9.02
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70240 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 70250Skull X-ray
- This code targets the bony sella. Code 70250 describes a broader skull examination with fewer than four views.
- 70260Skull X-ray
- This code is focused on the sellar region; code 70260 is a broader skull examination with four or more views.
- 70553Brain MRI
- This code is a conventional X-ray of the bony sella. Code 70553 is an MRI examination before and after contrast, selected when soft-tissue imaging is needed.
70240 billing questions
When should this code be used instead of a skull X-ray code?
Use this code when the examination is specifically centered on the sella turcica. A broader skull study is coded according to its extent and should not replace a focused sellar examination just because the sella appears on the images.
How are the professional and technical portions reported?
Report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
Can the interpretation and image acquisition be billed by different entities?
Yes. The interpreting radiologist or group may report the professional component, while the entity providing the equipment and staff reports the technical component.
What documentation supports reporting this focused examination?
The order and report should support that the imaging was directed at the sella turcica and identify the clinical reason, such as concern for sellar enlargement or bony change.
Does this X-ray evaluate pituitary soft tissue?
No. It evaluates the bony sellar region. When the clinical question concerns pituitary soft tissue, the selected imaging method may instead be MRI.
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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