Forearm radiographs, two views, showing the radius and ulna for fractures, alignment, healing, or hardware checks.
- Medicare
- $29.06
- Work RVU
- 0.16
- Global, days
- Region
- Multi-region
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Side imaged and views taken
- Injury mechanism or follow-up reason
- Fracture alignment and healing findings in the report
- Separate reason when wrist or elbow films are also billed
- Signed interpretation
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 3 cited references ↓
73090 is a two-view forearm X-ray, usually AP and lateral. It is one of the most frequent studies in an orthopedic and hand surgery office: shaft fractures of the radius and ulna, follow-up of casted pediatric forearm fractures, and post-ORIF hardware checks.
The overlap with wrist and elbow films is where claims go wrong. A forearm series often shows both joints, but if you also take dedicated wrist or elbow views, those are separate codes and need their own documented reason. Billing wrist and forearm for the same two images will be denied. Add RT or LT to every line.
During a fracture care global period, follow-up X-rays are billable separately, while the routine follow-up visit is included in the global. A Galeazzi or Monteggia pattern almost always needs wrist or elbow views too, which is a good example of when multiple codes are justified. For bilateral studies, two lines with RT and LT is the usual format, but payers differ.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
Work RVU vs. total RVU
The work RVU (0.16) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (0.87) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 0.16 |
| Practice expense RVU | 0.69 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.02 |
| Total RVU | 0.87 |
| Medicare national rate | $29.06 |
| 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 | $29.06 |
HOPD (APC 5521) Hospital outpatient department | $88.91 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73090 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Missing RT or LT
- Wrist or elbow code billed for the same images
- Only one view documented
- No interpretation in the record
- Bilateral billing format the payer does not accept
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01How many views is 73090?
02Can I bill 73090 with a wrist X-ray?
03Are X-rays billable during a fracture global period?
04How do I bill bilateral forearm X-rays?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe captures the side, mechanism, and fracture findings the surgeon dictates, so the forearm film is tied to the visit and laterality is clear.
See how Mira captures CPT 73090 documentation