Billing code 70548: Neck MRAMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the neck arteries, commonly used to assess suspected carotid or vertebral artery narrowing, dissection, or aneurysm.
Medicare pays $255.48–$291.09 for 70548 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 70548 covers
This service is an MRI-based angiographic study of the arteries in the neck performed after contrast administration. It is commonly used to evaluate carotid and vertebral artery disease, including suspected stenosis, dissection, or aneurysm. A radiology technologist performs the acquisition, and a radiologist interprets the images and prepares the report. It may be performed in a hospital imaging department or an outpatient imaging center.
Choose this code when the documented study is MR angiography of the neck performed with contrast, rather than a soft-tissue neck MRI or a neck MRA performed without contrast. The order, imaging record, and interpretation should support the neck arterial anatomy examined and contrast use. Medicare recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff, and no component modifier represents the global service. The diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional components when applicable.
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 70548 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $255.48 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $291.09 | Unavailable |
How the 70548 rate is calculated
Each of 70548’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 · 70548
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.46Practice expense 5.78Malpractice 0.11
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 70548
The CMS indicators that decide how 70548 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 70548
Neck MRA
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 4 | Diagnostic imaging reduction applies to the technical component (and professional component) of additional services. |
| 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
70548 without 26 · national office
$245.50
Neck MRA
70548-26 · Professional component
$68.81
Pays only the interpretation and report.
70548 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
70548 vs 70547 vs 70549 vs 70545 vs 70542: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 70547Neck MRA
- Use 70547 for neck MR angiography without contrast; 70548 represents the contrast-enhanced study.
- 70549Neck MRA
- Use 70549 when the neck MRA includes both noncontrast and contrast imaging. 70548 represents the contrast-enhanced study.
- 70545Head MR angiography
- 70545 is MR angiography of the head with contrast. Choose 70548 for the neck arterial territory.
- 70542MRI with contrast
- 70542 is an MRI of the orbit, face, or neck with contrast, not an angiographic study of neck arteries.
70548 billing questions
How does 70548 differ from 70547?
70548 is for neck MR angiography performed with contrast. Use 70547 when the neck MRA is performed without contrast.
When is 70549 more appropriate?
70549 describes neck MR angiography performed both without and with contrast. Use 70548 when the study is performed with contrast, not with both phases.
Can the professional and technical services be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Billing without either modifier represents the global service.
Does the multiple imaging reduction affect both components?
Yes. The diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction applies to both the technical and professional components.
Is this the correct code for a contrast-enhanced MRI of neck soft tissues?
No. This code is for MR angiography of the neck arteries. A neck soft-tissue MRI is a different study, even if it uses contrast.
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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