Billing code 78300: Bone scanMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports radionuclide imaging of a defined, limited skeletal region when the clinical question concerns a localized bone finding rather than a broader survey.
Medicare pays $208.58–$240.30 for 78300 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 78300 covers
This nuclear medicine study images a defined, limited portion of the skeleton. A gamma camera records the distribution of radiopharmaceutical uptake in that region. It may be used to investigate a localized concern, such as focal bone pain or suspected occult injury. The study is typically performed in a nuclear medicine department, with interpretation by a nuclear medicine physician or radiologist.
Select 78300 when the imaging is confined to a limited region; the documented area and images should support that scope. Imaging of multiple areas or the whole body is represented by different bone-imaging codes, while a three-phase study has its own code. Documentation should identify the region examined and include the images and interpreting physician’s report. For Medicare, modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation and modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. Reporting without either modifier represents 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 78300 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $208.58 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $240.30 | Unavailable |
How the 78300 rate is calculated
Each of 78300’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 · 78300
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.60
0.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.31
5.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.06
0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.9700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$199.40
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78300
The CMS indicators that decide how 78300 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78300
Bone scan
| 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
78300 without 26 · national office
$199.40
Bone scan
78300-26 · Professional component
$28.06
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78300 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 78305Bone imaging
- 78300 covers a limited skeletal region; 78305 is for imaging multiple areas. The documented scope of imaging distinguishes them.
- 78306Bone imaging
- 78306 represents whole-body bone imaging, while 78300 is limited to a defined region.
- 78315Bone imaging
- 78315 is the code for three-phase bone imaging. 78300 describes limited-area imaging without that three-phase distinction.
- 78350Bone mineral single photon
- 78350 is a bone mineral measurement study using single-photon absorptiometry, not radionuclide imaging of bone uptake.
78300 billing questions
How do I distinguish 78300 from 78305?
Use 78300 for imaging confined to a limited skeletal region. Use 78305 when multiple skeletal areas are imaged.
When is 78306 more appropriate?
78306 represents whole-body bone imaging. Choose based on the extent of the study performed and documented, not simply the reason for the scan.
How does 78315 differ from 78300?
78315 identifies a three-phase bone imaging study. Use 78300 for a limited-area study that is not reported as a three-phase examination.
How are the professional and technical services reported?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service. Reporting without a modifier represents the global service.
What documentation supports 78300?
Document the limited skeletal region examined, the imaging performed, and the interpreting physician’s report. The recorded extent should support a limited-area study rather than multiple-area or whole-body imaging.
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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