Plain radiographs of the hand with two views, typically a PA and a lateral or oblique, used to check for fracture, dislocation, arthritis, or foreign body.
- Medicare
- $31.40
- Work RVU
- 0.16
- Global, days
- Region
- Hand
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Order with the clinical reason (injury mechanism, pain location, suspected fracture)
- Number and type of views taken
- Signed written interpretation with findings and impression
- Laterality of the hand imaged
- Comparison to prior films when this is a follow-up study
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 ↓
Two views of the hand, usually a PA plus a lateral or oblique, is 73120. If three or more views are taken, the correct code is 73130, not 73120 with a units bump. Count the views in the report before you pick the code. Fingers alone go to 73140, and a wrist series goes to 73100 or 73110, so check what anatomy was actually filmed.
Ortho and hand practices take these in clinic all day: boxer's fractures, metacarpal fractures, follow-up films during fracture care, and baseline films for inflammatory or degenerative arthritis. Follow-up x-rays during the global period of a fracture treatment code are still separately billable, because the global covers the physician's care, not the imaging.
Two payment traps. First, Medicare reduces payment for x-rays taken with computed radiography (cassette-based digital), and the claim needs the FY modifier to report it. Film x-rays take the FX modifier and a larger cut. Second, if both hands are imaged, bill two lines with RT and LT. Do not report 73120 if the physician only glanced at films read by someone else; you need a written interpretation.
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 (0.94) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 0.16 |
| Practice expense RVU | 0.76 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.02 |
| Total RVU | 0.94 |
| Medicare national rate | $31.40 |
| 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 | $31.40 |
HOPD (APC 5522) Hospital outpatient department | $106.81 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73120 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Three or more views documented but 73120 billed, or 73130 billed with only two views in the report
- No separate written interpretation, only a mention in the visit note
- Missing FY or FX modifier when the equipment requires it
- Bilateral study billed on one line without RT and LT
- Repeat same-day film billed without modifier 76 or 77
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01What is the difference between 73120 and 73130?
02Can I bill hand x-rays during a fracture global period?
03How do I bill x-rays of both hands?
04Why was my hand x-ray paid less than the fee schedule?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe notes capture why the hand films were ordered and what the physician saw on them, giving the x-ray a clear interpretation and medical necessity trail.
See how Mira captures CPT 73120 documentation