Ankle arthrography, radiological supervision and interpretation — contrast injected into the ankle joint with fluoroscopic imaging captured and interpreted by the radiologist or ordering provider.
Verified May 8, 2026 · 6 sources ↓
- Medicare
- $132.94
- Total RVUs
- 3.98
- Global, days
- Region
- Foot & ankle
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓
- Clinical indication documented in the order and the report — vague indications like 'ankle pain' without further specificity invite medical necessity denials
- Formal written interpretation with findings, impression, and signature; a technologist worksheet alone does not satisfy RS&I requirements
- Laterality documented — left, right, or bilateral — matching the LT/RT modifier on the claim
- Confirmation that the contrast injection was performed and documented separately (27648 operative/procedure note) before billing 73615
- Contrast agent type and volume recorded in the procedure note or radiology report
- Ordering provider name and NPI on the claim; self-referral or missing ordering provider is a common HOPD edit trigger
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 6 cited references ↓
73615 covers the radiological supervision and interpretation (RS&I) component of ankle arthrography — the fluoroscopic imaging performed after contrast is injected into the ankle joint capsule. The injection itself is coded separately (typically 27648). Billing 73615 without a paired injection code is a common audit trigger; the two codes work together but are distinct.
The code is split-billable: modifier 26 captures the professional component (interpretation and report) and TC captures the technical component (equipment, film, staff). In an office or hospital outpatient setting where the billing provider owns the equipment and performs the read, the global code is billed without a modifier. Radiology groups reading films they did not produce bill modifier 26 only.
Primary indications include suspected ligamentous tears, osteochondral lesions, loose bodies, and post-surgical evaluation when standard radiographs or MRI are inconclusive or contraindicated. The global period is XXX — no global surgical period applies, so this code does not trigger post-op bundling rules.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
| Work RVU | 0.53 |
| Practice expense RVU | 3.4 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.05 |
| Total RVU | 3.98 |
| Medicare national rate | $132.94 |
| 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 | $132.94 |
HOPD (APC 5572) Hospital outpatient department | $356.43 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73615 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- 73615 billed without the paired injection code 27648 — payers expect both codes when arthrography is performed in the same session
- Missing or inadequate written interpretation — submitting only a technologist's worksheet without a physician-signed report fails RS&I requirements
- Laterality modifier absent or mismatched — claim says LT, report says right ankle
- Medical necessity not established — diagnosis code does not support contrast arthrography over standard radiographs or MRI
- Modifier 26 / TC conflict — facility bills global 73615 when the radiologist reading the film bills 26 separately, creating a duplicate payment edit
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 6 cited references ↓
01Do I bill 73615 alone or with the injection code?
02When do I use modifier 26 versus billing 73615 globally?
03Can 73615 be billed bilaterally?
04What ICD-10 codes support medical necessity for ankle arthrography?
05Is 73615 billable in an ASC setting?
06What is the global period for 73615?
07Can 73615 be billed the same day as an MRI of the ankle?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.
- 01CMS Physician Fee Schedule 2026
- 02cms.govhttps://www.cms.gov/files/document/03-chapter3-ncci-medicare-policy-manual-2026-final.pdf
- 03cms.govhttps://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/national-correct-coding-initiative-ncci-edits/medicare-ncci-faq-library
- 04mdclarity.comhttps://www.mdclarity.com/cpt-code/73615
- 05eohhs.ri.govhttps://eohhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur226/files/2021-03/radiology_procedure_codes.pdf
- 06aapc.comhttps://www.aapc.com/codes/cpt-codes/73615
Mira AI Scribe
Mira's AI scribe captures the laterality, contrast agent, injection approach, fluoroscopic findings, and the interpreting physician's impression directly from dictation — populating the radiology report fields that satisfy RS&I documentation requirements. This prevents the most common denial path: a claim for 73615 that reaches adjudication without a compliant written interpretation on file.
See how Mira captures CPT 73615 documentation