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See a sample rate comparisonCPT 72131 Fee Schedule
Medicare rates as of October 2026
CPT 72131 is classified under Radiology Procedures, in the Diagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging) Procedures subgroup.
Ct Scan Of Lower Spine, Ct (Computed Tomography) Of Spine (Low Back). The Scanner Circles The Body Taking X-Rays And Assembles Them Into A 3-D Image. Dye May Be Injected To Make The Area Easier To See.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Service Type | Radiology Procedures Diagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging) Procedures |
| Common Place of Service | 23 - Emergency Room 11 - Office |
| Common Modifiers | 26 - Professional component TC - Technical component |
| Complexity Level | Low |
| Medicare Fee Schedule | $129.93 national non-facility rate (2026) · View Medicare rates for 72131 |
| Medicaid Fee Schedule | $105.885 median of the 8 states in the free preview · View Medicaid rates for 72131 |
National average reimbursement for CPT 72131 by major payers:
$171.99
BCBS / Anthem
$225.76
UnitedHealthcare
$256.18
Aetna
$256.41
Cigna
Compare published rates across providers.
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CPT 72131
5 of 25 sample ratesHigher to lower in this preview
Jonathan Fields
$356.60Published rateHeidi Roloson
Slocum Dickson Medical Group PLLC
$181.11Published rateGamaliel Rodriguez-Herrera
$153.61Published rateChristopher Glynn
Dubois Regional Medical Center
$72.04Published rateAaron Falchook
South Broward Hospital District
$42.25Published rate
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Payer Contract Negotiation
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See a sample payer proposalCPT 72131 vs. Other Diagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging) Procedures Codes
The table lists codes related to 72131. Select one to see its fee schedule.
| Code | Complexity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 72131-CPT | Low | Ct Scan Of Lower Spine, Ct (Computed Tomography) Of Spine (Low Back). The Scanner Circles The Body Taking X-Rays And Assembles Them Into A 3-D Image. Dye May Be Injected To Make The Area Easier To See. |
| 72132-CPT | Moderate | Ct Scan Of Lower Spine, Ct (Computed Tomography) Of Spine (Low Back). The Scanner Circles The Body Taking X-Rays And Assembles Them Into A 3-D Image. Dye May Be Injected To Make The Area Easier To See. |
| 72133-CPT | Moderate | Ct Scan Of The Back, A Ct (Computed Tomography) Scan Of The Upper Middle Or Lower Back. The Scanner Circles The Body Taking X-Rays And Assembles Them Into A 3-D Image. After One Set Of Images A Second Set Is Taken With Contrast Dye To Highlight Areas. |
| 72148-CPT | Moderate | Mri Inner Spine (Canal), An Mri (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Of The Interior Of The Lower Spine (Spinal Canal). A Contrast Agent May Be Given To Enhance The Images. |
What is a fee schedule?
A fee schedule is a list of fixed prices that healthcare providers charge for specific services, including CPT 72131. These prices vary depending on payer type (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance), geographic location, and provider contracts.
Understanding the 72131 fee schedule helps patients estimate costs and providers optimize billing for accurate reimbursements.
Factors that affect fee schedules
Medicare & Medicaid Rates
Government-set reimbursement amounts
Private Insurance Rates
Negotiated rates between providers and insurance companies
Geographic Location
Costs may be higher in urban areas.
Provider Type
Hospital providers may have different rates than private practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code is a five-digit numerical code used by medical professionals to describe medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. It's crucial for understanding medical costs because it standardizes the identification of services, allowing payers (like insurance companies) and providers to communicate clearly about what services were rendered. Knowing the CPT code for a specific procedure or service is often the first step in estimating its cost.
To find out the cost of a specific medical procedure or service, you typically need its CPT code. Once you have the CPT code, you can use a tool designed for fee schedule lookups. For accurate, location-specific pricing based on various payers, you can use Payerprice's fee schedule lookup tool. This allows you to search with the CPT code and your specific location to get an estimate of costs relevant to your situation.
A fee schedule is a comprehensive listing of fees used by insurance companies or government programs (like Medicare/Medicaid) to pay providers for specific medical services or procedures. It sets the maximum allowable amount that a provider can be reimbursed for a particular CPT code. Fee schedules vary significantly based on the payer, provider, location, and insurance plan.
Payerprice is a service that provides a fee schedule lookup tool, allowing users to search for the cost of medical procedures. By using a CPT code and specifying a location, Payerprice helps individuals and healthcare professionals understand the potential costs of services, facilitating more informed healthcare decisions and financial planning.
While resources like CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) provide information primarily related to Medicare and Medicaid fee schedules, Payerprice offers a broader fee schedule lookup tool. Payerprice is designed for users to search with a CPT code and specific location, providing a more direct and often more comprehensive view of various payer's fee schedules beyond just government programs, making it suitable for a wider range of specific situations and insurance types.
Yes, Payerprice's fee schedule lookup tool is specifically designed to allow users to search with a CPT code and a specific location. This feature helps provide more accurate and relevant cost estimates tailored to where the medical service will be performed, as prices can vary significantly by geographic area.