Imaging · Elbow

Radiologic examination of the elbow, complete, requiring a minimum of three views.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Medicare: $33.07
Total RVUs: 0.99
Global, days
Region: Elbow

Drawn from CMSAAPCMdclarity

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Radiology report must confirm minimum three views were obtained and name each projection (AP, lateral, oblique, etc.).
Ordering provider's clinical indication documented in the order or referring note — fracture, dislocation, effusion, arthritis, or other specified diagnosis.
Operative or procedure note must name the imaging as pre- or post-reduction when 73080 is billed same-day as a fracture/dislocation procedure.
For modifier 26 claims, a signed interpretation report by the billing provider is required — images alone are insufficient.
Laterality (right or left elbow) must be specified in the order and on the claim when LT or RT modifier is appended.

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

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

73080 covers a complete elbow X-ray series — at minimum three projections, typically anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique. It sits above 73070 (two-view elbow series) in the elbow imaging hierarchy. The view count is what drives code selection: if the tech captures three or more views, bill 73080; two views, bill 73070.

In orthopedic and ED settings, 73080 appears frequently alongside fracture or dislocation management. For post-reduction X-rays of the same elbow on the same date, the professional component of the follow-up study is not separately payable under NCCI policy — only the technical component may be billed. Modifier 76 (same-provider repeat) or 59 (distinct service, non-Medicaid payers) applies to the post-reduction image depending on payer type.

Bilateral elbow imaging does not use modifier 50 — use LT and RT on separate claim lines. If only interpreting a study performed elsewhere, append modifier 26 to bill the professional component only. Split-billing between a hospital radiology department and the reading physician is standard: the facility bills the technical component, the radiologist or orthopedic surgeon bills 73080-26.

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	0.8
Malpractice RVU	0.02
Total RVU	0.99
Medicare national rate	$33.07
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	$33.07
HOPD (APC 5521) Hospital outpatient department	$88.91

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73080 get rejected.

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

Billed as 73080 when only two views were taken — payer downcodes to 73070 or denies outright.
Post-reduction professional component billed separately without recognizing NCCI policy that it is not separately payable — only the technical component applies.
Modifier 50 used for bilateral elbow X-rays instead of separate LT and RT lines, causing claim rejection on payers that require laterality modifiers for unilateral codes.
Missing or unsigned radiologist/physician interpretation report when modifier 26 is appended.
Claim lacks a valid ICD-10 diagnosis code that supports the medical necessity of a complete three-view series.

Frequently asked questions

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

01What's the difference between 73070 and 73080?

View count. 73070 is exactly two views; 73080 is a complete series of three or more views. If the tech shoots three projections, bill 73080 — billing 73070 leaves reimbursement on the table and misrepresents the service.

02Can I bill 73080 bilaterally with modifier 50?

No. 73080 is a unilateral code. Bill each elbow on a separate claim line with modifier LT or RT. Modifier 50 is not appropriate here and will trigger rejection from most payers.

03How do I bill a post-reduction elbow X-ray on the same date as the pre-reduction study?

Under NCCI policy, the professional component of a post-reduction comparative study is not separately payable — only the technical component may be billed. For non-Medicaid payers, append modifier 59 to the post-reduction code. For Medicaid when the same provider ordered both studies, use modifier 76 instead.

04The radiologist interpreted the film but didn't perform the technical work. What modifier applies?

Modifier 26 — professional component only. The interpreting physician bills 73080-26; the facility or imaging center bills the technical component separately. A signed written report is required to support the 26 claim.

05Does 73080 have a global period?

No. 73080 carries a XXX global indicator, meaning the global period concept does not apply. There are no bundled pre- or post-service periods attached to this imaging code.

06When is modifier 52 appropriate with 73080?

If fewer than three views were captured but the clinical situation still justified attempting a complete series — for example, a patient who could not tolerate full positioning — modifier 52 signals a reduced service. Document the reason in the radiology report. Do not use 52 as a routine substitute for billing 73070 when only two views were planned from the start.

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 obtained, the specific projections named by the technologist or dictating physician, the clinical indication, and whether the study is pre- or post-reduction. That documentation locks in the correct code level (73080 vs. 73070) and supports the modifier strategy for same-day repeat imaging — preventing downcoding denials and NCCI professional-component flags before the claim is submitted.

See how Mira captures CPT 73080 documentation