Radiologic examination, chest; single view, frontal

CPT 71010 is the billing code for "Radiologic examination, chest; single view, frontal". For single view frontal chest X-ray

CPT 71010 has a total RVU of 1.53, broken down as: Work RVU 0.30, Practice Expense RVU 1.20, and Malpractice RVU 0.03. RVUs (Relative Value Units) determine Medicare reimbursement rates.

The most common denial reason for CPT 71010 is "Not medically necessary - screening without symptoms". 71010 (chest X-ray single view) must have medical indication - not covered for asymptomatic screening except specific pre-operative requirements. Denials occur for routine annual screening, employment physicals without symptoms, or general health screening. Common causes include: Ordered as part of routine physical without respiratory symptoms; Pre-employment screening without symptoms or specific job requirement. Appeal success rate is approximately 10-30%.

Key documentation requirements for CPT 71010 include: Indication for chest X-ray; Single view frontal; Findings and interpretation; Comparison to prior studies if available. Missing or incomplete documentation is a leading cause of claim denials for this code.

Bundling considerations for CPT 71010: Includes single view frontal. Includes interpretation and report Use an NCCI bundling checker to verify specific code combinations before billing.

Common modifiers for CPT 71010 include: 26 (Professional component only (interpretation)), TC (Technical component only (equipment/staff)), 59 (Distinct procedural service if performed separately). Modifiers indicate special circumstances and can affect reimbursement or prevent claim denials.

The typical time requirement for CPT 71010 is 5-10 minutes typical procedure time. Time-based codes require documentation of the actual time spent providing the service.