Imaging · Spine

Radiologic supervision and interpretation for selective angiography of the spinal arteries, including image documentation and formal written report.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Medicare: $290.92
Total RVUs: 8.71
Global, days
Region: Spine

Drawn from CMSMdclarity

Documentation requirements

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

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Formal written interpretation signed by the supervising/interpreting physician — not just a procedure note
Clinical indication documented in the order and the report, tied to a specific ICD-10 diagnosis code
Identification of each spinal artery selectively catheterized and imaged during the session
Image documentation stored as part of the permanent record (per standard angiography protocols)
Physician presence or real-time supervision level documented per facility and payer requirements
Separate operative/procedure note for catheter placement coded under the 36000-series

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 XS Separate structure

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

CPT 75705 covers the radiologic supervision and interpretation (S&I) component of selective spinal artery angiography — the fluoroscopic imaging, contrast runs, image acquisition, and the formal written interpretation that must accompany the procedure. It is the imaging side of spinal angiography; the corresponding catheter placement code(s) from the 36000-series are billed separately for the surgical work. The global period is XXX, meaning no global period applies and pre/post-service evaluation is not bundled.

Spinal artery angiography is performed to evaluate vascular malformations (AVMs, dural AVFs), identify the artery of Adamkiewicz before thoracoabdominal aortic repair, and assess spinal cord vascular supply in the setting of myelopathy or tumor. Because each spinal artery territory may require selective catheterization, multiple injections in a single session are common. Billing for multiple vessels in one session requires accurate documentation of each vessel selectively catheterized and separately imaged.

This code appears in CMS LCD L33557 (Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography) alongside other selective angiography codes. Coverage requires documented medical necessity — a clinical indication tied to a specific ICD-10 diagnosis. Missing or vague indications are the primary driver of medical necessity denials for this code.

RVU & reimbursement

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

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	2.13
Practice expense RVU	6.08
Malpractice RVU	0.5
Total RVU	8.71
Medicare national rate	$290.92
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	$290.92
HOPD (APC 5184) Hospital outpatient department	$5,685.01

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 75705 get rejected.

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

Medical necessity not established — vague or absent clinical indication in the order or report
Missing formal written S&I report; procedure note alone does not satisfy 75705 documentation requirements
Unbundling error — 75705 billed without a separately documented catheter placement code, or bundled incorrectly with it
Incorrect site-of-service billing — 75705 has an HOPD facility rate; billing under non-facility RVUs in a hospital setting triggers recoupment
Diagnosis code mismatch between the order, the report, and the claim

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓

01Does 75705 include the catheter placement, or is that billed separately?

75705 is S&I only. Catheter placement is billed separately using the appropriate 36000-series selective catheterization code. Both are expected on the claim when a physician performs the complete procedure.

02Can 75705 be billed more than once in a session if multiple spinal arteries are imaged?

Payer policy varies. Some payers allow multiple units with modifier 59 or XS when separate vessels are selectively catheterized and independently documented; others limit to one unit per session. Verify with your MAC before submitting multiple units.

03What modifier applies when the radiologist only interprets images and did not perform catheter placement?

Modifier 26 (professional component only) applies when the interpreting physician bills for the written interpretation alone and the facility bills the technical component separately.

04Is 75705 payable in an ASC setting?

No ASC payment rate is established for 75705. The code is typically performed and reimbursed in the HOPD setting.

05What ICD-10 diagnoses support medical necessity for spinal artery angiography?

Common covered indications include spinal AVM (Q28.1), dural AVF, spinal cord vascular disease (G95.19), and pre-operative mapping before thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. Your MAC's LCD will define the covered diagnosis list — confirm against L33557 or your jurisdiction's equivalent.

06What is the global period for 75705?

XXX — no global period. Pre- and post-procedure E/M services are not bundled and may be billed separately with appropriate 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, each spinal artery territory selectively imaged, contrast volumes, and the interpreting physician's findings from dictation — then flags if no formal written interpretation is present before the claim is submitted. That prevents the single most common denial for 75705: a procedure note filed in place of a signed S&I report.

See how Mira captures CPT 75705 documentation