Imaging · Shoulder

Radiographic examination of both acromioclavicular joints, with or without stress weight-bearing views

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Medicare: $30.39
Work RVU: 0.18
Global, days
Region: Shoulder

Drawn from CMSAAPCPayerprice

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Radiology order specifying bilateral AC joint views, with or without stress/weight-bearing
Clinical indication documenting why bilateral imaging is medically necessary (e.g., suspected AC separation, comparison of contralateral joint)
Radiology report with interpretation of both AC joints and explicit notation of views obtained (weighted vs. unweighted)
If 73050 billed same-day as 73030, separate indications documented for each study in the order and report
For modifier 52: documentation that only unilateral AC joint was imaged and why the bilateral study was not completed

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

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

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

73050 covers bilateral AC joint radiography — the study designed to image both acromioclavicular joints in a single encounter, typically with and without hanging weights to stress the joint and assess for separation grade. It is the go-to code when the clinical question is AC joint integrity, not general shoulder anatomy. If the exam covers only one AC joint, apply modifier 52 for reduced services; there is no dedicated unilateral AC joint code.

73050 and 73030 are frequently ordered together on the same date, particularly in trauma settings where the provider needs both a full shoulder series and dedicated AC joint views. These two codes are not bundled under NCCI and can be reported on the same date — but the orders and radiology report must support both as distinct, medically necessary studies. Document the indication for each separately.

For split-billing environments, modifier 26 covers the radiologist's interpretation only; the facility or independent imaging center billing for equipment and tech staff appends TC. In a global billing setting (private office with owned equipment), neither modifier is needed. Payer contracts determine which component is reimbursable in each setting — confirm with your fee schedule before submitting.

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 (0.18) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (0.91) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.

Work RVU	0.18
Practice expense RVU	0.71
Malpractice RVU	0.02
Total RVU	0.91
Medicare national rate	$30.39
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	$30.39
HOPD (APC 5521) Hospital outpatient department	$88.91

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73050 get rejected.

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

Bundling denial when 73050 is submitted same-day as 73030 without separate documented indications for each study
Modifier 50 appended incorrectly — 73050 already describes a bilateral study; modifier 50 is not applicable
Missing or insufficient clinical indication for bilateral views when unilateral pathology was the only documented complaint
Modifier 26 or TC omitted in split-billing settings, causing facility/professional component conflict
Unilateral exam billed as full 73050 without modifier 52, triggering overpayment recovery on audit

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓

01Does 73050 cover one shoulder or both?

73050 describes bilateral AC joint imaging. It inherently covers both sides. Do not append modifier 50 — that would imply you're doubling a unilateral code, which misstates what was performed and will trigger a denial or overpayment review.

02Can I bill 73050 and 73030 on the same date?

Yes. NCCI does not bundle 73050 into 73030. Both can be reported on the same date if both were ordered and performed as distinct studies with separate documented indications. The radiology report must address each study individually.

03What modifier applies when only one AC joint was imaged?

Use modifier 52 to indicate reduced services. There is no standalone unilateral AC joint X-ray code, so 73050-52 is the correct approach when only the right or left AC joint was studied.

04When does modifier 26 apply to 73050?

Append modifier 26 when the radiologist or interpreting physician is billing only for the professional component — reading and reporting the images — without owning or operating the imaging equipment. The facility bills TC for the technical component.

05What ICD-10 diagnoses typically support 73050 medical necessity?

AC joint separation (S43.1xx), acromioclavicular osteoarthritis (M19.011/M19.012), shoulder pain with suspected bilateral pathology (M79.621/M79.622), and post-traumatic evaluation of the AC joint are the most common supporting diagnoses. Payers may require bilateral documentation when a unilateral code would otherwise suffice.

06Is 73050 subject to a global period?

No. 73050 carries a XXX global indicator, meaning global period rules do not apply. It can be billed freely on any date regardless of concurrent surgical or procedural services, as long as medical necessity is documented.

Sources & references

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

Mira Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures the laterality of the AC joint exam, whether stress/weight-bearing views were obtained, and the specific clinical indication driving bilateral imaging. That prevents the two most common 73050 denials: billing a full bilateral code for a unilateral study (needs modifier 52) and failing to document separate necessity when 73050 and 73030 are ordered together on the same date.

See how Mira captures CPT 73050 documentation