Billing code 74160: Abdominal CTMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports diagnostic CT imaging of the abdomen performed with contrast when the study covers the abdomen without including the pelvis.
Medicare pays $239.79–$273.81 for 74160 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 74160 covers
This service covers CT image acquisition of the abdomen using contrast, followed by interpretation of the images. It is commonly performed in hospital radiology departments and outpatient imaging centers. A technologist operates the scanner and supports image acquisition; a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets the examination and issues a report. Abdominal CT may be ordered to assess findings such as abdominal pain, a suspected mass, or an intra-abdominal infection.
Select this code when the documented examination is an abdominal CT with contrast, rather than a noncontrast study, a study performed both without and with contrast, or imaging that also includes the pelvis. The record should support the body region, contrast protocol, images obtained, and interpretation. The service has separately billable professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and an unmodified claim represents the global service. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to both 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 74160 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $239.79 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $273.81 | Unavailable |
How the 74160 rate is calculated
Each of 74160’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 · 74160
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.24Practice expense 5.56Malpractice 0.09
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 74160
The CMS indicators that decide how 74160 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 74160
Abdominal CT
| 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
74160 without 26 · national office
$230.13
Abdominal CT
74160-26 · Professional component
$58.45
Pays only the interpretation and report.
74160 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
74160 vs 74150 vs 74170 vs 74177 vs 74175: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 74150CT abdomen
- 74150 is for an abdominal CT without contrast; 74160 is for one performed with contrast.
- 74170Ct abd wo cntrst flwd cntrst
- 74170 describes abdominal CT imaging both without and with contrast. Use 74160 when the documented study is with contrast only.
- 74177CT abdomen and pelvis
- 74177 includes both abdomen and pelvis with contrast. Use 74160 when the examination covers the abdomen without the pelvis.
- 74175Cta abdomen w/contrast
- 74175 is for abdominal CT angiography, a vascular-focused examination. 74160 is for routine diagnostic abdominal CT with contrast.
74160 billing questions
When should 74160 be chosen over 74170?
Use 74160 for an abdominal CT performed with contrast. Use 74170 when the examination includes imaging both without and with contrast.
Does this code include the pelvis?
No. It represents abdominal imaging; choose a code for abdomen and pelvis when both regions are examined.
How are the professional and technical services billed?
Report modifier 26 for the physician's interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Reporting without either modifier represents the global service.
Does the multiple procedure reduction affect both components?
Yes. CMS applies the diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction to the technical and professional components.
What documentation supports reporting 74160?
The record should identify the abdominal region examined, the contrast protocol, the images obtained, and the physician's interpretation.
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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