CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
72100 — Radiologic examination, spine, lumbosacral; 2 or 3 views
An X-ray of the lower spine (lumbar region and sacrum) taken from two or three different angles to evaluate low back pain, injuries, spinal alignment, and degenerative changes.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center, urgent care
- National avg charge (illustrative): $40–$100 Medicare allowed; $60–$250 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: View-count upcoding: billing 72110 (4 or more views) when only 2-3 views were obtained, or conversely using 72100 when a more comprehensive study was performed
What it means
What 72100 actually means
An X-ray of the lower spine (lumbar region and sacrum) taken from two or three different angles to evaluate low back pain, injuries, spinal alignment, and degenerative changes. It is one of the most commonly ordered spine imaging studies.
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).
- View-count upcoding: billing 72110 (4 or more views) when only 2-3 views were obtained, or conversely using 72100 when a more comprehensive study was performed
- Billing bilateral modifier when lumbar spine X-rays are inherently unilateral (spine is midline) — modifier 50 is not appropriate
- Bundling multiple spinal region codes on the same date (e.g., 72100 lumbar + 72070 thoracic) — each spinal region is separately billable when clinically indicated and documented
If you see 72100 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 72100 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 72100 on a bill.
72100 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 72100 usually cost?
$40–$100 Medicare allowed; $60–$250 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 72100?
View-count upcoding: billing 72110 (4 or more views) when only 2-3 views were obtained, or conversely using 72100 when a more comprehensive study was performed
What should I do if I see 72100 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 72100 before paying.
Don't pay 72100 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.