Imaging · Knee

Radiologic examination of the knee joint using arthrography — contrast injection and radiological supervision and interpretation only.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 6 sources ↓

Medicare: $117.24
Total RVUs: 3.51
Global, days
Region: Knee

Drawn from CMSRadiologytodayHologicAAOSEmedny

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓

Indication for arthrography — clinical reason contrast injection was medically necessary
Confirmation that the injected substance was contrast material (not corticosteroid or other therapeutic agent)
Formal written radiology report with interpretation of the contrast images
Identification of the supervising/interpreting physician separate from the injecting provider if billing professional component only
Documentation of fluoroscopic guidance if 77002 is being considered for non-Medicare payers
Laterality specified (right vs. left knee) to support LT/RT modifiers

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 LT Left side RT Right side 59 Distinct service

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 6 cited references ↓

73580 covers the radiological supervision and interpretation (S&I) component of knee arthrography — the fluoroscopic oversight and formal read of the contrast study, not the injection itself. The injection of contrast into the knee joint is separately reported with 27369. If you're performing both, bill 27369 plus 73580 together. Do not use 73580 for arthrocentesis or for injection of any non-contrast material such as corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid — the code is contrast-injection specific.

Fluoroscopic guidance (77002) is bundled into 73580 for Medicare patients via NCCI edits. Do not separately report 77002 alongside 73580 on a Medicare claim. For non-Medicare payers, verify whether 77002 is separately payable before appending it. When knee arthrography precedes a CT or MRI with contrast, 73580 pairs with the appropriate 'with contrast' imaging code, but again the NCCI bundles fluoroscopy into those CT/MRI codes for Medicare.

The global period is XXX, meaning no global surgical package applies — this is a diagnostic radiology service billed per encounter. Modifiers 26 and TC split the professional and technical components when the interpreting physician and the imaging facility bill separately, which is the standard arrangement in most hospital outpatient and independent clinic settings.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	0.58
Practice expense RVU	2.85
Malpractice RVU	0.08
Total RVU	3.51
Medicare national rate	$117.24
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	$117.24
HOPD (APC 5572) Hospital outpatient department	$356.43

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73580 get rejected.

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

Billing 73580 without 27369 when the injection was also performed — payer expects both codes or questions the S&I without an associated injection code
Appending 77002 alongside 73580 on a Medicare claim — NCCI bundles fluoroscopy into the arthrography S&I code
Using 73580 when only a therapeutic injection (steroid, hyaluronic acid) was performed — code requires contrast injection specifically
Missing or unsigned formal radiology interpretation report — required to support the supervision and interpretation component
Incorrect laterality or absent LT/RT modifier causing claim edits at payers that require side designation

Frequently asked questions

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

01Can I bill 73580 alone without 27369?

Only if a separate provider performed and billed the injection. If your practice did the injection and the S&I, bill both 27369 and 73580. Billing 73580 alone without an associated injection code is a frequent audit flag.

02Is 77002 separately billable with 73580 for Medicare?

No. CMS NCCI bundles 77002 into 73580 for Medicare. Appending 77002 on a Medicare claim alongside 73580 will trigger an edit. For commercial payers, check the contract — some allow separate reporting.

03Can 73580 be used when the orthopedic surgeon injects a steroid into the knee under fluoroscopy?

No. 73580 is limited to contrast injection for arthrography. Steroid or hyaluronic acid injections under fluoroscopic guidance use the injection code plus 77002, not 73580.

04When should modifier 26 be appended to 73580?

Use modifier 26 when the radiologist or interpreting physician bills only the professional component — the formal read and report — separately from the facility or technical component. This is standard in hospital outpatient and independent clinic settings.

05What is the global period for 73580?

XXX — no global surgical package. Each arthrography encounter is billed independently with no pre- or post-procedure period attached.

06Does 73580 apply to MRI or CT arthrogram?

No. When knee arthrography precedes a CT or MRI, bill the appropriate CT or MRI 'with contrast' code alongside 73580 for the S&I. The imaging code is separate — 73580 covers the fluoroscopic supervision and interpretation of the contrast injection itself, not the cross-sectional imaging.

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 injected substance (contrast only), the laterality of the knee, the supervising and interpreting physician's identity, and the clinical indication from dictation. It flags notes where a therapeutic agent is mentioned alongside 73580 — one of the most common misuse patterns identified by AAOS — preventing a denial before the claim is submitted.

See how Mira captures CPT 73580 documentation