MRI of a hip, knee, or ankle joint performed with contrast only, including MR arthrograms where contrast is placed directly into the joint.
- Medicare
- $314.97
- Work RVU
- 1.58
- 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 ↓
- Clinical question (labral tear, cartilage defect, re-tear after repair)
- Route of contrast, intra-articular or IV, and the agent used
- Separate injection procedure note for the arthrogram
- Joint and laterality
- Signed interpretation and authorization matching 73722
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 ↓
73722 is the lower extremity joint MRI with contrast and no separate pre-contrast series. Its most common use in ortho is the MR arthrogram: the hip for labral tears and FAI workup, and sometimes the knee after meniscal repair. Intra-articular contrast counts as a with-contrast study, so these are reported as 73722 plus the injection code.
The injection is billed separately. For the hip, that is 27093 (or 27095 with anesthesia). For the knee, 27369. Imaging guidance for the injection, often fluoroscopy with 77002, may be reportable depending on the injection code, so check the CPT notes and NCCI edits for the code pair. If the injection is done by one physician and the MRI is read by another, each bills only their part.
If IV contrast is given and a non-contrast series is also read, the code moves to 73723. Prior authorization is required by most commercial plans, and the request should mention the arthrogram so the reviewer does not approve a plain MRI code by mistake.
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 (1.58) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (9.43) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 1.58 |
| Practice expense RVU | 7.74 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.11 |
| Total RVU | 9.43 |
| Medicare national rate | $314.97 |
| 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 | $314.97 |
HOPD (APC 5573) Hospital outpatient department | $800.90 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73722 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Authorization obtained for non-contrast 73721
- Injection code not billed, or billed by the wrong provider
- Fluoroscopic guidance billed with an injection code that already includes it
- Both phases read but coded as 73722 instead of 73723
- Missing laterality
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01How do I code a hip MR arthrogram?
02Is intra-articular contrast coded as with contrast?
03What is the knee arthrography injection code?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe notes capture the exam findings and history behind a hip or knee MR arthrogram order, so the authorization and the injection both have support.
See how Mira captures CPT 73722 documentation