Billing code 73070: Elbow X-rayMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
A two-view plain radiograph of the elbow evaluates symptoms or injury when the study is limited to two images of that joint.
Medicare pays $30.54–$34.85 for 73070 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 73070 covers
This service is a plain-film examination of one elbow using two views. It is commonly ordered after a fall or other injury to assess for fracture or dislocation, and for elbow pain or limited motion. A radiologic technologist obtains the images in an imaging center, hospital, or office; a qualified practitioner interprets them and documents the findings. The study focuses on the elbow joint rather than a separate forearm or upper-arm examination.
Select this code when the elbow study consists of two views; use the appropriate sibling code when three or more views are obtained. The order and report should identify the side, clinical reason, views performed, and interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. When both elbows are imaged, each side is paid separately at 100%.
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 73070 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $30.54 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $34.85 | Unavailable |
How the 73070 rate is calculated
Each of 73070’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 · 73070
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.16Practice expense 0.70Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 73070
The CMS indicators that decide how 73070 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 73070
Elbow 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) | 3 | Each side paid at 100% (no 150% cap). |
| 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
73070 without 26 · national office
$29.39
Elbow X-ray
73070-26 · Professional component
$8.02
Pays only the interpretation and report.
73070 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
73070 vs 73080 vs 73090 vs 73085: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 73080Elbow X-ray
- The distinction is the number of elbow views: 73070 is for two views, while 73080 is for three or more.
- 73090Forearm X-ray
- 73070 examines the elbow; 73090 examines the forearm. Choose according to the body region imaged.
- 73085Contrast X-ray
- 73070 is a routine plain-film elbow study. 73085 is for an elbow examination performed with contrast.
73070 billing questions
When should 73070 be chosen instead of 73080?
Use 73070 for a two-view elbow study. Use 73080 when three or more views are obtained.
Can the interpretation and imaging 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.
How is imaging of both elbows reported?
Report the study for each side imaged. CMS pays each side separately at 100% when performed bilaterally.
What documentation supports 73070?
Document the clinical indication, the elbow side, the two views obtained, and the interpretation. The documented view count should support selection over 73080.
Does 73070 cover a forearm X-ray as well?
No. It describes the elbow study; a separately performed forearm examination is coded based on the forearm imaging obtained.
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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