Radiologic examination, spine, thoracic; 3 views

CPT 72072 is the billing code for "Radiologic examination, spine, thoracic; 3 views". For thoracic spine X-ray with 3 views

Medicare pays approximately $38.17 for CPT 72072 (national average). Actual payment varies by geographic location due to GPCI adjustments. Hospital and commercial insurance rates are typically 2-4x higher than Medicare rates.

CPT 72072 has a total RVU of 2.86, broken down as: Work RVU 0.60, Practice Expense RVU 2.20, and Malpractice RVU 0.06. RVUs (Relative Value Units) determine Medicare reimbursement rates.

Key documentation requirements for CPT 72072 include: Indication for thoracic spine X-ray; 3 views obtained; Findings and interpretation; Alignment assessment. Missing or incomplete documentation is a leading cause of claim denials for this code.

Bundling considerations for CPT 72072: Includes 3 views thoracic spine. Includes interpretation and report Use an NCCI bundling checker to verify specific code combinations before billing.

Common modifiers for CPT 72072 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 72072 is 12-18 minutes typical procedure time. Time-based codes require documentation of the actual time spent providing the service.