Non-contrast MRI of the chest, used for masses of the chest wall, mediastinum, or nearby soft tissues.
- Medicare
- $333.01
- Work RVU
- 1.42
- 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 ↓
- Order naming the chest region and the target structure
- Clinical reason, such as chest wall mass or sternoclavicular joint pathology
- MRI safety screening for hardware and devices
- Authorization matching the code billed
- Signed report
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 ↓
71550 is a chest MRI without contrast. It is used for chest wall masses, mediastinal lesions, and some vascular or soft tissue questions. It is not a thoracic spine MRI, which is 72146.
Orthopedic oncology and shoulder surgeons may see it. A chest wall sarcoma, a soft tissue mass near the scapula, or a sternoclavicular joint problem may be imaged with chest MRI depending on the facility protocol. Brachial plexus MRI has no code of its own, and imaging centers pick the region code based on their protocol. Ask the imaging center which code they will bill before the authorization is requested.
Billing notes: authorization is commonly required, and the authorized code must match what is billed. If contrast is added, the code is 71551 (with) or 71552 (without and with). The diagnosis should name the chest wall or mediastinal problem, not a spinal one.
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 (1.42) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (9.97) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 1.42 |
| Practice expense RVU | 8.45 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.1 |
| Total RVU | 9.97 |
| Medicare national rate | $333.01 |
| 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 | $333.01 |
HOPD (APC 5523) Hospital outpatient department | $243.77 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 71550 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Thoracic spine diagnosis billed under a chest MRI code
- Authorization obtained for an upper extremity or neck MRI instead
- Contrast given, so 71551 or 71552 was correct
- Diagnosis does not support chest imaging
- Missing modifier 26 for a facility read
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01Is 71550 used for a thoracic spine MRI?
02What code is used for brachial plexus MRI?
03What if contrast is added?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe records the location and size of a palpable chest wall or periscapular mass, which helps match the MRI order to the right body region.
See how Mira captures CPT 71550 documentation