CT scan of the lower extremity performed without contrast material, producing cross-sectional images of bones, soft tissue, and other structures without injected dye.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 6 sources ↓

Medicare: $130.26
Total RVUs: 3.9
Global, days
Region: Foot & ankle

Drawn from CMSMolinamarketplaceACR

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓

Ordering provider's name and NCI/reason for exam documented in the radiology request or requisition
Radiologist's signed final report explicitly stating no contrast was administered
Clinical indication tied to a covered ICD-10 diagnosis code supported by the ordering provider's notes
If 3D reconstruction (76376/76377) is billed separately, the report must document that reconstruction was performed and state medical necessity
Laterality documented when a unilateral extremity is imaged (required to support LT/RT modifier)

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 6 cited references ↓

73700 covers a non-contrast CT of the lower extremity — leg, ankle, or foot — where detailed cross-sectional images are acquired without any contrast agent. It is the go-to code when the clinical question centers on bony pathology: fractures (acute or stress), osteomyelitis, bone tumors, avascular necrosis, or surgical hardware assessment where contrast would add little diagnostic value and is contraindicated or unnecessary.

The code family for lower extremity CT breaks into three tiers: 73700 (without contrast), 73701 (with contrast), and 73702 (without followed by with contrast). Choosing the wrong tier — billing 73700 when contrast was actually used — is a straightforward audit finding. If 3D reconstruction is performed and separately documented, 76376 (2D) or 76377 (3D with independent workstation) can be reported alongside 73700, but the radiologist's report must explicitly document that the reconstruction was performed and medically necessary.

Modifier 26 separates the professional component (radiologist interpretation and report) from the technical component (scanner operation, facility overhead) and is standard when the reading physician is not the facility owner. Laterality modifiers LT and RT apply when imaging is unilateral. Payer prior authorization requirements for lower extremity CT vary widely — commercial plans frequently require it; Medicare does not have a national coverage determination restricting 73700, but Local Coverage Articles govern covered ICD-10 diagnoses by MAC jurisdiction.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	0.98
Practice expense RVU	2.85
Malpractice RVU	0.07
Total RVU	3.9
Medicare national rate	$130.26
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	$130.26
HOPD (APC 5522) Hospital outpatient department	$106.81

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73700 get rejected.

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

Missing or unsupported ICD-10 diagnosis — payer's covered-indication list does not match the billed code
Lack of prior authorization from commercial payer before the scan was performed
Billing 73700 when contrast was administered — should be 73701 or 73702
Professional component (modifier 26) billed by facility instead of interpreting radiologist's group
3D reconstruction code (76376/76377) appended without supporting documentation in the radiology report

Frequently asked questions

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

01When should I use 73700 versus 73701 or 73702?

Use 73700 only when no contrast is administered at any point. Use 73701 when contrast is given without a preliminary non-contrast acquisition. Use 73702 when images are acquired both before and after contrast injection. The radiologist's report must confirm which protocol was used — billing the wrong tier is a frequent audit flag.

02Can I bill 76376 or 76377 with 73700 for 3D reconstructions?

Yes, but only if the radiologist's report explicitly documents that 3D reconstruction was performed and states the clinical reason for it. Appending 76376 or 76377 without that documentation is a denial waiting to happen.

03Do I need modifier 26 on 73700?

Yes, when the interpreting radiologist or their group does not own the imaging equipment. Modifier 26 bills only the professional component — interpretation and report. The facility bills the technical component without a modifier. If both are owned by the same entity, bill the global code with no modifier.

04Does Medicare require prior authorization for 73700?

There is no national coverage determination restricting 73700, but MAC-specific Local Coverage Articles govern which ICD-10 diagnoses support payment. Commercial payers frequently require prior authorization — confirm before the scan is performed or risk a non-covered-service denial.

05If the same lower extremity CT is ordered twice on the same day, how do I bill the repeat scan?

Append modifier 76 if the same physician or group orders and the same radiologist reads the repeat study. Use modifier 77 if a different physician is involved. Document the medical necessity for repeating the scan — payers will scrutinize same-day duplicates closely.

06Is 73700 subject to NCCI bundling with procedure codes on the same date?

Per NCCI policy, imaging codes that are integral to a surgical or interventional procedure cannot be billed separately. If the CT is a standalone diagnostic study unrelated to a same-day procedure, it can be reported separately with modifier 59 to indicate a distinct service, supported by documentation.

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 clinical indication dictated by the ordering provider, the absence of contrast administration, the anatomic region and laterality, and any post-processing (3D reconstruction) performed during the study. This prevents the two most common denials for 73700: a mismatch between the documented clinical indication and the billed ICD-10 code, and an inadvertent upgrade to 73701/73702 when no contrast was given.

See how Mira captures CPT 73700 documentation