Thoracic spine radiographs with at least four views, adding obliques or other projections to the standard frontal and lateral images.
- Medicare
- $44.09
- Work RVU
- 0.24
- Global, days
- Region
- Spine
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Report listing four or more views by type
- Reason the extra views were needed
- Clinical indication, such as suspected fracture or hardware check
- Written interpretation
- Comparison to prior imaging when relevant
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 ↓
72074 is a thoracic spine x-ray with four or more views. The extra projections are usually obliques or a swimmer's view, used to look at facet joints, subtle fractures, or the cervicothoracic junction.
Spine practices order it less often than the two or three view studies. It comes up when a fracture is suspected but not seen on standard views, when post-op hardware needs to be checked from more angles, or when a thoracic deformity needs a closer look. If your office owns the machine, bill globally. If you read outside films, use modifier 26.
The report must list four or more views. If fewer were taken, drop to 72072 or 72070. Payers will look for a reason the extra views were needed, so a routine follow-up with no change in symptoms is weak support. Scoliosis and full spine films are separate codes, and thoracolumbar junction studies use 72080.
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 (0.24) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (1.32) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 0.24 |
| Practice expense RVU | 1.06 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.02 |
| Total RVU | 1.32 |
| Medicare national rate | $44.09 |
| 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 | $44.09 |
HOPD (APC 5522) Hospital outpatient department | $106.81 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 72074 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Fewer than four views in the report
- No reason for extra views on a routine follow-up
- Global billed for outside films that were only read
- Billed with a scoliosis series for the same images
- Missing written interpretation
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01How many views does 72074 require?
02When are extra thoracic spine views justified?
03Can the treating surgeon bill the read for 72074?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe records why the surgeon wanted additional views and what the films showed, which supports the four-view code over a standard series.
See how Mira captures CPT 72074 documentation