$30.54–$34.85
73070 is the two-view elbow study. Choose 73080 when the complete examination includes at least three views.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
73080 Elbow X-ray Medicare reimbursement rates in Washington
Reports a complete plain-film examination of the elbow with at least three views for suspected fracture, joint injury, pain, or other elbow findings. Compare 73080 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Washington.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 73080 in Washington?
Washington has 2 payment localities in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the 2 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$34.40–$39.29
2 of 2 localities have a supported rate.
Facility setting
No supported rate
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Radiology
About 73080: Complete elbow radiograph, three or more views
Reports a complete plain-film examination of the elbow with at least three views for suspected fracture, joint injury, pain, or other elbow findings.
This code represents a complete plain-film study of one elbow, using at least three radiographic views. It is commonly ordered after trauma when a fracture or dislocation is suspected, or to assess persistent elbow pain, joint changes, or another localized finding. A radiologic technologist obtains the images in an office, imaging center, or hospital; a physician, commonly a radiologist, interprets them and documents the findings.
Select this study when the order and images support a complete elbow examination with three or more views, rather than the two-view study reported with 73070. Documentation should identify the examined side and support the medical reason for imaging. CMS separately prices the interpretation with modifier 26 and the equipment and staff with modifier TC; reporting the code without either modifier represents the global service. When both elbows are imaged, each side is paid separately at 100%.
CMS billing rules for 73080
- Professional and technical components
- Diagnostic test with a professional component (modifier 26, interpretation) and a technical component (modifier TC, equipment and staff); billing without a modifier is the global service.
- Bilateral procedures
- Each side is paid separately at 100% when performed bilaterally.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.17 · 17%
- Practice expense (office) RVU0.80 · 81%
- Malpractice RVU0.02 · 2%
420.2K
Medicare services in 2024 · #247 by national volume
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.
73080 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Washington, from the same CMS release.
$100.19–$114.35
73085 is for elbow imaging performed with contrast. Use 73080 for routine plain-film views without contrast.
$30.19–$34.44
73090 examines the forearm rather than the elbow joint. Select by the anatomical region imaged and documented.
Compare 73080 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
2 of 2 payment localities
Rest Of Washington →
Office / nonfacility
$34.40
Facility
Unavailable
Seattle (King Cnty) →
Office / nonfacility
$39.29
Facility
Unavailable
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73080 billing questions
When should 73080 be selected instead of 73070?
Use 73080 for a complete elbow study with at least three views. Code 73070 is for a two-view elbow examination.
Can the interpretation and imaging be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical service. Without either modifier, the code represents the global service.
How is imaging of both elbows reported?
Report the examination for each side separately. CMS pays each side at 100% when performed bilaterally.
What documentation supports 73080?
Document the clinical reason for imaging, the side examined, and the views obtained. The record should support a complete examination with at least three views.
Is a contrast elbow study reported with 73080?
No. Code 73085 describes an elbow examination using contrast; 73080 represents a plain-film study.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
8,12073070,,X-ray exam of elbow,A,,0.16,0.70,,0.70,NA,0.02,0.88,0.88,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,2.69,2.69,0.05
8,12173070,26,X-ray exam of elbow,A,,0.16,0.07,,0.07,,0.01,0.24,0.24,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,12273070,TC,X-ray exam of elbow,A,,0.00,0.63,,0.63,NA,0.01,0.64,0.64,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,2.62,2.62,0.04
8,12373080,,X-ray exam of elbow,A,,0.17,0.80,,0.80,NA,0.02,0.99,0.99,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,2.70,2.70,0.05
8,12473080,26,X-ray exam of elbow,A,,0.17,0.07,,0.07,,0.01,0.25,0.25,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
8,12573080,TC,X-ray exam of elbow,A,,0.00,0.73,,0.73,NA,0.01,0.74,0.74,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,01,0,99,2.63,2.63,0.04
8,12673085,,Contrast x-ray of elbow,A,,0.53,2.31,,2.31,NA,0.04,2.88,2.88,1,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,3,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,10.81,10.81,0.08