Imaging · Shoulder

Radiologic examination of the clavicle (collarbone), complete — minimum two views required to satisfy 'complete' standard.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 6 sources ↓

Medicare: $33.40
Total RVUs: 1
Global, days
Region: Shoulder

Drawn from CMSAAPCMdclarityEohhsPayerprice

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓

Number of views taken must be documented — minimum two to meet 'complete' threshold
Clinical indication recorded in the order and radiology report (fracture, dislocation, tumor, arthritis, etc.)
Laterality specified in both the order and the report (left, right, or bilateral)
Radiologist interpretation note or treating physician interpretation if billing professional component
Patient positioning documented in the radiology report when non-standard views are obtained

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

26 Professional component 50 Bilateral procedure 52 Reduced services 59 Distinct service LT Left side RT Right side

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 6 cited references ↓

73000 covers a complete radiologic examination of the clavicle. 'Complete' means at least two views; a single AP view alone doesn't satisfy the code. The study is used to evaluate fractures, AC joint involvement, dislocations, bone tumors, arthritis, bone spurs, and congenital abnormalities of the collarbone.

The code is billed by the performing facility or practice when the technical and professional components are combined (global). When the radiologist interprets images taken at a separate facility, split billing applies: modifier 26 for the professional read, TC for the technical capture. Orthopedic surgeons ordering and supervising in-office imaging bill globally unless a separate radiology group reads the films.

For bilateral clavicle studies — common in trauma to rule out contralateral injury or for comparison — append LT and RT on separate line items, or modifier 50 if payer policy accepts it. Confirm with the specific payer before defaulting to modifier 50; Medicare and many commercial plans prefer separate LT/RT lines.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	0.16
Practice expense RVU	0.82
Malpractice RVU	0.02
Total RVU	1
Medicare national rate	$33.40
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	$33.40
HOPD (APC 5521) Hospital outpatient department	$88.91

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73000 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

Single-view study billed as 'complete' — payers require minimum two views for 73000
Missing or ambiguous laterality modifier when bilateral studies are performed
Duplicate claim when bilateral clavicles billed as two units of 73000 without LT/RT or modifier 50
Bundling denial when 73000 is billed alongside a shoulder series (73030) acquired the same day without distinct clinical indication
Missing or mismatched ICD-10 diagnosis code that doesn't support clavicle-specific imaging

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 6 cited references ↓

01How many views are required to bill 73000?

At least two views. A standalone AP is not a 'complete' study. If only one view was obtained, bill 73000 with modifier 52 to indicate a reduced service, or use the appropriate limited code — billing 73000 unmodified for a single view is a misrepresentation.

02Should I use modifier 50 or separate LT/RT lines for bilateral clavicle X-rays?

Prefer separate LT and RT line items for most payers. Medicare generally processes bilateral radiology this way. Some commercial payers accept modifier 50 on a single line — verify the specific payer's radiology billing policy before submitting.

03Can 73000 and 73030 (shoulder complete) be billed together on the same date?

Only if there is a distinct clinical indication for each study documented in the order. Routine shoulder series that incidentally capture the clavicle doesn't support a separate 73000. An isolated clavicle fracture workup ordered separately from a shoulder evaluation does.

04When does the orthopedic surgeon bill modifier 26 vs. globally for 73000?

Bill globally (no modifier) when the practice owns the equipment, employs the tech, and the surgeon or a practice radiologist interprets the images. Use modifier 26 when images are taken at a separate facility and the surgeon only provides the interpretation.

05What ICD-10 codes are commonly paired with 73000?

Most frequently: S42.00x (clavicle fracture, unspecified) with appropriate laterality extensions, M89.819 (disorder of bone, unspecified), and M19.019 (primary osteoarthritis, shoulder). Always match the ICD-10 seventh character for laterality to the LT or RT modifier on the claim.

06Is 73000 subject to a global period?

No. The global period is XXX, meaning no pre- or post-service period applies. The code covers the imaging encounter only — there is no bundled follow-up or pre-procedure evaluation attached to it.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira AI Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures the number of views taken, laterality, and the clinical indication from the ordering provider's dictation — the three fields that trigger the most 73000 denials. If the note says 'clavicle X-ray' without specifying view count or side, the scribe flags it for completion before the claim drops, preventing single-view downcoding and laterality rejections.

See how Mira captures CPT 73000 documentation