Imaging · Shoulder

Radiologic examination of the scapula (shoulder blade), complete — capturing all standard views needed to evaluate fractures, dislocations, bone lesions, or structural abnormalities of the scapula.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 6 sources ↓

Medicare: $25.05
Total RVUs: 0.75
Global, days
Region: Shoulder

Drawn from CMSAAPCMdclarityPayerpriceEmedny

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓

Clinical indication explicitly naming the scapula as the structure of concern (e.g., suspected scapular fracture, scapular lesion, scapular winging)
Number of views obtained and the specific projections (e.g., AP, lateral Y-view, oblique) — 'complete' requires at least two views per standard protocol
Radiologist or interpreting physician's signed report with findings and impression tied to the scapula, not just a generic shoulder read
If billed same-day with shoulder series 73030, separate order and documentation establishing distinct medical necessity for each exam
Supervising physician credentials and technician credentialing on file if billed through an IDTF (CMS supervision level 01 required)

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 76 Repeat, same physician 77 Repeat, another physician LT Left side RT Right side

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 6 cited references ↓

CPT 73010 covers a complete scapula radiograph series. It is distinct from shoulder series codes (73020, 73030): the clinical intent here is imaging the scapula itself, not the glenohumeral joint or acromioclavicular anatomy. Typical indications include scapular body or neck fractures, scapular winging workup, bone tumors or lesions, and post-trauma assessment where the scapula is the primary structure of interest.

Billing 73010 alongside a shoulder series (73030) on the same date requires clear clinical documentation that both exams were medically necessary and targeted distinct diagnostic questions. Without that rationale, payers bundle the charges. If you are splitting the professional component from the technical component — for example when an orthopedic surgeon reads films taken at a hospital — append modifier 26 to 73010 for the read only.

For IDTFs, CMS requires general-level supervision (supervision level 01) for 73010, with the supervising physician being a board-certified radiologist or orthopedic surgeon and the technician holding a state general radiographer license or ARRT R.T.-R credential. Failure to meet those credentialing requirements at the time of service is a clean audit target.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	0.17
Practice expense RVU	0.56
Malpractice RVU	0.02
Total RVU	0.75
Medicare national rate	$25.05
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	$25.05
HOPD (APC 5522) Hospital outpatient department	$106.81

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73010 get rejected.

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

Bundled with same-day shoulder series 73030 when documentation doesn't establish separate medical necessity for the scapula-specific exam
Missing or inadequate interpretation report — claim submitted without a signed radiology read attributable to the scapula study
ICD-10 diagnosis code maps to a shoulder or glenohumeral condition rather than a scapula-specific code, causing a CPT-diagnosis mismatch flag
Professional component billed without modifier 26 when the interpreting physician did not own or operate the imaging equipment
IDTF credentialing gap — supervising physician not board-certified in radiology or orthopedic surgery at time of service

Frequently asked questions

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

01Can I bill 73010 and 73030 together on the same date?

Yes, but only with separate orders and documentation showing each exam addressed a distinct clinical question. Billing both without that distinction draws bundling edits from most payers. Append modifier 59 to the lower-RVU code when the exams are legitimately separate.

02When do I use modifier 26 with 73010?

Use modifier 26 when the interpreting physician is billing only for the professional read — typically an orthopedic surgeon or radiologist reviewing films taken at a facility they don't own. The facility bills the technical component separately (modifier TC is not in the Mira modifier set; the TC split is handled on the facility side).

03What supervision level does CMS require for 73010 in an IDTF?

General supervision (level 01). The supervising physician must be a board-certified radiologist or orthopedic surgeon. The technician must hold a state general radiographer license or ARRT R.T.-R credential. Document this on file — auditors pull IDTF credentialing records.

04Is 73010 ever billed bilaterally?

Rarely, but yes — if both scapulae are imaged for comparison (e.g., suspected bilateral stress lesions or congenital workup), append modifier 50. New York Medicaid and most payers reimburse bilateral at no more than 150–160% of the single-side allowable. Verify your contract.

05What ICD-10 codes are typically paired with 73010?

Common pairings include S42.10x (scapular fracture, unspecified), M89.X1 (bone disorder of shoulder), and Q74.0 (congenital upper limb anomaly). Avoid mapping to glenohumeral or rotator cuff codes — those point payers toward 73030, not 73010, and generate mismatch denials.

06Does 73010 have a global period?

No. The global period is XXX, meaning the global surgery concept does not apply. Each service is billed on its own without pre- or post-operative period restrictions attached to the imaging code itself.

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 specific clinical indication for scapula imaging (fracture concern, lesion, winging), the views ordered and obtained, and the interpreting physician's findings tied to scapular anatomy — not generic shoulder pathology. That prevents the most common denial: an ICD-10 code pointing to glenohumeral disease on a 73010 claim, which triggers automatic CPT-diagnosis mismatch edits.

See how Mira captures CPT 73010 documentation