Radiographs of an infant's upper extremity, at least two views, imaging the arm as a whole instead of joint by joint.
- Medicare
- $30.73
- 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 ↓
- Patient age
- Side imaged and views taken
- Clinical reason (birth injury, deformity, suspected fracture)
- Signed interpretation
- Separate reason for any additional dedicated joint films
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 ↓
73092 covers X-rays of the upper extremity in an infant, minimum two views. Because an infant arm is small, one film often captures the shoulder to the hand, and this code covers that whole-limb study rather than separate humerus, forearm, and elbow codes.
Pediatric orthopedic practices use it for suspected birth fractures of the clavicle or humerus, brachial plexus birth injury workup, congenital limb differences, and nonaccidental trauma evaluation. In abuse workups the skeletal survey has its own code, and 73092 should not be added for the same images.
CPT does not set a strict age cutoff for infant, so follow the payer's interpretation and be consistent. Billing humerus plus forearm codes for a single whole-arm infant film is the common mistake. Add RT or LT. If dedicated joint views are taken later for a specific finding, those may be billed separately with documentation.
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 (0.92) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 0.16 |
| Practice expense RVU | 0.74 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.02 |
| Total RVU | 0.92 |
| Medicare national rate | $30.73 |
| 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 | $30.73 |
HOPD (APC 5522) Hospital outpatient department | $106.81 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73092 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Separate humerus and forearm codes billed for a whole-arm infant film
- Billed with a skeletal survey for the same images
- Missing laterality
- Age on the claim does not fit the payer's view of an infant
- Only one view documented
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01What age counts as infant for 73092?
02Can I bill 73092 with 73060 or 73090?
03Is 73092 used in a skeletal survey?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe records the birth history, side, and exam findings for infant arm imaging, so the claim reflects one whole-limb study.
See how Mira captures CPT 73092 documentation