CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
71260 — CT thorax ; with contrast material
A CT scan of the chest where iodine-based contrast dye is injected into a vein to make blood vessels and certain tissues easier to see, providing better visualization of lymph nodes, masses, and vascular structures.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center
- National avg charge (illustrative): $175–$430 Medicare allowed; $300–$1,000 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 71260 when no contrast was actually given — use 71250 for non-contrast studies
What it means
What 71260 actually means
A CT scan of the chest where iodine-based contrast dye is injected into a vein to make blood vessels and certain tissues easier to see, providing better visualization of lymph nodes, masses, and vascular structures. It is used to evaluate lung masses, mediastinal abnormalities, and pulmonary embolism.
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 71260 when no contrast was actually given — use 71250 for non-contrast studies
- Billing 71260 and 71250 separately for what was actually a single study with and without contrast — that scenario requires 71270
- Separate billing of contrast material (Q9967 or A9578) without verifying payer policy — some payers bundle contrast into the imaging code
If you see 71260 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 71260 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 71260 on a bill.
71260 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 71260 usually cost?
$175–$430 Medicare allowed; $300–$1,000 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 71260?
Billing 71260 when no contrast was actually given — use 71250 for non-contrast studies
What should I do if I see 71260 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 71260 before paying.
Don't pay 71260 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.