CT angiography of the chest vessels with contrast, including image post-processing, most often used to look for pulmonary embolism.
- Medicare
- $280.57
- Work RVU
- 1.77
- Global, days
- Region
- Other
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Symptoms such as dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia, or hypoxia
- Recent surgery or fracture and date
- VTE prophylaxis given
- Contrast agent and dose
- Report including the post-processed images
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓
71275 is a CT angiogram of the chest. Contrast fills the pulmonary arteries and aorta, and the study includes 3D post-processing. The most common reason it is ordered is suspected pulmonary embolism.
That ties it directly to orthopedics. Hip and knee replacement, hip fracture surgery, and long bone trauma all carry real VTE risk. A post-op patient with sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or a fast heart rate will usually get a chest CTA. The hospitalist or ED physician usually orders it, and radiology bills the read. If your surgeon's team orders it, the order should list the symptoms and the recent surgery.
Coding rules: 71275 includes the non-contrast images if they are done, so do not add 71250. Post-processing is part of the code, so 3D rendering codes are not billed separately for the same study. Outpatient chest CTA usually needs commercial prior authorization, but inpatient and ED studies typically do not.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
Work RVU vs. total RVU
The work RVU (1.77) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (8.4) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 1.77 |
| Practice expense RVU | 6.49 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.14 |
| Total RVU | 8.4 |
| Medicare national rate | $280.57 |
| Global period | days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $280.57 |
HOPD (APC 5571) Hospital outpatient department | $179.20 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 71275 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Billed with 71250 for the same session
- 3D rendering billed separately for the same study
- Diagnosis limited to the joint replacement with no symptom
- Outpatient study without prior authorization
- Global billed by a hospital-based radiologist
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01Can 71275 and 71250 be billed together?
02What diagnosis supports 71275 after joint replacement?
03Is 3D post-processing billed separately with 71275?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe records post-op symptoms, the surgery date, and the patient's VTE prophylaxis in the follow-up note, which is the clinical picture a PE workup needs.
See how Mira captures CPT 71275 documentation