CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
71250 — CT thorax ; without contrast material
A CT scan of the chest performed without injecting contrast dye, creating detailed cross-sectional images of the lungs, airways, and chest structures.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center
- National avg charge (illustrative): $150–$380 Medicare allowed; $250–$900 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 71250 (without contrast) when contrast was administered — use 71260 for with contrast only, or 71270 for both without and with contrast
What it means
What 71250 actually means
A CT scan of the chest performed without injecting contrast dye, creating detailed cross-sectional images of the lungs, airways, and chest structures. It is frequently ordered to evaluate lung nodules, pneumonia, emphysema, and other lung conditions.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Billing 71250 (without contrast) when contrast was administered — use 71260 for with contrast only, or 71270 for both without and with contrast
- Billing both 71250 and a lung cancer screening CT code (G0297/71271) on the same date without clinical justification
- Facility and professional component duplicate billing — ensure each entity bills only for its component (technical vs. professional)
If you see 71250 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 71250 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
70470 — CT head/brain with and without contrast
If contrast wasn't given, 70470 is the wrong code.
CPT
70486 — CT maxillofacial area; without contrast material
Imaging — verify professional + technical components weren't double-billed.
CPT
70551 — MRI brain without contrast
Same scan can be 5x cheaper at a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71045 — Chest X-ray, single view
Same image can cost 10x more at a hospital than a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71046 — Chest X-ray, two views (PA + lateral)
Two-view CXR is standard. Watch the price gap between hospital and freestanding.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 71250 on a bill.
71250 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 71250 usually cost?
$150–$380 Medicare allowed; $250–$900 commercial; varies by region. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 71250?
Billing 71250 (without contrast) when contrast was administered — use 71260 for with contrast only, or 71270 for both without and with contrast
What should I do if I see 71250 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 71250 before paying.
Don't pay 71250 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.