Radiologic examination of the wrist with a minimum of two views.
Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓
- Medicare
- $34.40
- Total RVUs
- 1.03
- Global, days
- Region
- Wrist
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓
- Number of views obtained (minimum two for 73100; document each view taken)
- Clinical indication or ICD-10 diagnosis code supporting medical necessity (fracture, pain, dislocation, etc.)
- Radiologist or interpreting physician's signed written report with findings and impression
- Laterality documented — left, right, or bilateral — to support LT/RT modifier use
- Order or requisition from referring or treating provider on file
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 5 cited references ↓
73100 covers a two-view (or more) plain film radiographic examination of the wrist. It's the go-to code for initial fracture workup, post-reduction checks, and evaluating wrist pain of unclear origin. The minimum two-view requirement distinguishes it from 73110 (three or more views); if you took only one view, bill 73100 with modifier 52.
Billing splits by who owns the equipment and who reads the film. If your orthopedic practice performs and interprets in-house, bill globally. If a radiologist interprets only, append modifier 26. If the facility owns the equipment and bills the technical portion separately, use modifier TC. In a hospital outpatient setting, the facility captures the technical component under HOPD rates; the interpreting physician bills 73100-26.
Never report 73100 separately when it's bundled into an imaging-guided procedure — NCCI policy bars separate reporting of radiology codes that are integral to another procedure on the same date. When 73100 is billed alongside an E/M on the same visit for a new wrist complaint, no modifier is needed on the imaging code itself; modifier 25 belongs on the E/M.
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 | 0.85 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.02 |
| Total RVU | 1.03 |
| Medicare national rate | $34.40 |
| 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 | $34.40 |
HOPD (APC 5521) Hospital outpatient department | $88.91 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73100 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Only one view taken but modifier 52 not appended — payer downcodes or denies without reduced-service documentation
- Radiology report missing or unsigned at time of claim submission
- 73100 billed globally when facility owns equipment — results in a split-billing conflict requiring modifier 26 on the professional claim
- Lack of medical necessity documentation — ICD-10 code too vague (e.g., unspecified wrist pain) without supporting clinical notes
- Duplicate claim when both the facility and the physician bill the global code without proper TC/26 split
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓
01What's the difference between 73100 and 73110?
02If only one view was obtained, how should I bill?
03Do I need modifier 25 on the E/M when 73100 is billed same-day?
04When should I use modifier 26 versus billing 73100 globally?
05Can 73100 be billed bilaterally with modifier 50?
06Is 73100 ever bundled into a fracture care code?
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 laterality of the study, and the clinical indication from dictation — preventing the two most common 73100 denials: missing view count and absent laterality. It also flags when a global bill is inappropriate because the interpreting physician doesn't own the equipment, prompting the correct modifier 26 before the claim goes out.
See how Mira captures CPT 73100 documentation