Imaging · Hip

Radiologic exam of a single hip, capturing two or three views, including the pelvis when performed.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 7 sources ↓

Medicare: $48.77
Total RVUs: 1.46
Global, days
Region: Hip

Drawn from CMSRadiologytodayAAPCCarepatronMedibillmd

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 7 cited references ↓

Clinical indication linking the imaging to a specific symptom, diagnosis, or trauma event
Laterality — specify right or left hip explicitly in the order and report
Number and type of views obtained (e.g., AP pelvis, frog-leg lateral right hip)
Radiologist or interpreting provider's signed report with findings and impression
If pelvis was imaged, confirm it is documented as part of the same session
Technical component details sufficient to distinguish from a single-view exam (73501)

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

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 7 cited references ↓

73502 covers a unilateral hip X-ray with two or three projections — AP, frog-leg lateral, cross-table lateral, or any combination. The pelvis is included in the code when imaged during the same session; a separate pelvic X-ray code is not billable alongside it on the same claim without a documented distinct indication and an NCCI-associated modifier. The code was introduced in 2016 when CMS deleted the old hip series (73500–73540) and replaced them with view-count-based codes (73501–73503 unilateral, 73521–73523 bilateral). View count drives code selection: one view is 73501, two or three is 73502, four or more is 73503.

Laterality must be reported. Bill 73502-LT or 73502-RT for a single side. For bilateral studies, most payers want two line items with LT and RT rather than modifier 50 — but verify by payer, as preferences vary. If the ordering provider and the radiologist are in different billing entities, split billing applies: append modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and TC for the technical component. Orthopedic practices performing in-office X-rays and reading them in-house bill globally.

Common clinical triggers include hip pain, trauma workup, fracture follow-up, suspected AVN, and pre- or post-arthroplasty evaluation. Medical necessity documentation must tie the imaging to a supported ICD-10 diagnosis. Screening diagnoses without a documented clinical indication are a frequent denial driver.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	0.21
Practice expense RVU	1.23
Malpractice RVU	0.02
Total RVU	1.46
Medicare national rate	$48.77
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	$48.77
HOPD (APC 5521) Hospital outpatient department	$88.91

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73502 get rejected.

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

Missing or ambiguous laterality — payer requires LT or RT modifier and claim omits it
Medical necessity not supported — screening or non-specific diagnosis without documented clinical indication
Unbundling 73502 with a separate pelvic X-ray code when pelvis was part of the same exam
Incorrect view-count code selected — single view billed as 73502 instead of 73501
Global bill submitted when only TC or professional component is owned by the billing provider

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 7 cited references ↓

01Does 73502 include the pelvis, or should I bill a pelvic X-ray separately?

73502 includes the pelvis when it is imaged during the same session. Billing a separate pelvic code alongside 73502 without a distinct, documented indication will trigger an NCCI bundling edit.

02Which modifier do I use for bilateral hip X-rays — 50, or LT and RT?

Most payers prefer two separate line items with LT and RT modifiers. Modifier 50 is accepted by some, but verify with each payer before defaulting to it — Medicare MACs generally accept the two-line approach.

03What is the difference between 73501, 73502, and 73503?

View count is the only differentiator: 73501 is one view, 73502 is two or three views, 73503 is four or more views. All three are unilateral. If you took three views, 73502 is correct regardless of which projections were used.

04When should I split-bill with modifier 26 and TC?

Use modifier 26 when a radiologist or physician interprets and reports the images but does not own the equipment. Use TC when the facility owns the equipment but a separate provider reads the study. Global billing applies only when both components belong to the same billing entity.

05Can 73502 be billed the same day as a hip arthroplasty or injection procedure?

Yes, but document that the imaging served a distinct purpose from the procedure's inherent fluoroscopic or intraoperative guidance. NCCI policy bars separately reporting radiology codes when the imaging is integral to another procedure performed the same day — a standalone diagnostic hip X-ray with a documented separate indication is billable.

06What ICD-10 codes are commonly paired with 73502?

Common pairings include M16.x (osteoarthritis of hip), S72.x (femoral fracture), M87.x (osteonecrosis), Z47.1 (aftercare following joint replacement), and M25.551/M25.552 (hip pain, right/left). The diagnosis must match the clinical indication documented in the order.

Sources & references

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

Mira AI Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures laterality, view count, and the clinical indication from provider dictation at the point of ordering or interpreting. It flags encounters where the pelvis was imaged but not documented as part of the hip study, and confirms the ICD-10 diagnosis supports medical necessity — preventing the two most common denial triggers: missing laterality modifier and unsupported screening claims.

See how Mira captures CPT 73502 documentation