Billing code 70360: Neck X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Plain radiographs of the neck’s soft tissues are reported to assess findings such as a suspected foreign body, airway narrowing, or prevertebral swelling.
Medicare pays $32.27–$36.78 for 70360 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 70360 covers
This plain-film study evaluates soft-tissue structures in the neck rather than focusing on the cervical vertebrae. It may be ordered for a suspected radiopaque foreign body in the upper aerodigestive tract, airway narrowing, or prevertebral soft-tissue swelling. Radiology departments, emergency departments, and outpatient imaging centers commonly perform the examination; a qualified physician interprets the images.
Report 70360 when the requested and performed study is a soft-tissue neck examination. The order, acquired views, and interpretation should support that target and the clinical question. The global service includes the imaging and interpretation. Modifier 26 identifies the physician’s interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff portion; bill without either modifier for 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.
Where 70360 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $32.27 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $36.78 | Unavailable |
How the 70360 rate is calculated
Each of 70360’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 · 70360
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.18Practice expense 0.73Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70360
The CMS indicators that decide how 70360 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70360
Neck 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
70360 without 26 · national office
$31.06
Neck X-ray
70360-26 · Professional component
$8.68
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70360 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
70360 vs 72040 vs 70370 vs 70371: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 72040Cervical spine X-ray
- Use 70360 for soft-tissue neck imaging; use 72040 when the examination is directed at the cervical vertebrae and includes two or three views.
- 70370Throat imaging
- 70360 is a plain-film soft-tissue neck study. 70370 evaluates the pharynx or larynx using fluoroscopy.
- 70371Speech imaging
- 70371 is a dynamic functional evaluation of the pharyngeal mechanism, not a plain radiograph of neck soft tissues.
70360 billing questions
How is this different from a cervical spine X-ray?
70360 evaluates neck soft tissues. Choose a cervical spine radiograph code when the study is directed at the vertebrae and alignment.
Can 70360 be reported with modifier 26 or TC?
Yes. Modifier 26 reports the professional interpretation, modifier TC reports the technical portion, and no modifier represents the global service.
Are the individual views billed as separate units?
The code represents the soft-tissue neck examination, not each image or view. Do not count views as separate units.
What documentation supports reporting 70360?
The record should identify the soft-tissue neck indication, the examination performed, and the interpreting physician’s findings. The documented study should distinguish soft-tissue imaging from cervical spine imaging.
When would a fluoroscopic throat study be a better fit?
Use a pharynx or larynx study with fluoroscopy when the examination evaluates those structures dynamically. 70360 is a plain-film soft-tissue neck examination.
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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