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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging) Procedures of the ChestCPT cpt-71046-chest-radiograph-multi-view
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    CPT 71046: Chest Radiologic Exam, Minimum Two Views

    Medicare pays $23 and commercial payers pay $74 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 71046 describes a diagnostic radiologic study of the chest consisting of a minimum of two views, performed to evaluate the lungs, heart, chest wall, and adjacent structures; service type: diagnostic radiology – chest radiograph; typical site of service: radiology department or outpatient imaging center.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    National means show a clear split: Medicare’s mean of $22.9 sits well below BUCA’s commercial-average mean of $74, reflecting a roughly $51.1 gap between government and the average commercial benchmark for CPT 71046. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group have means closer to BUCA, while Aetna and Cigna are nearer to Medicare’s level, positioning payers across a spectrum of reimbursement intensity.

    Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) varies meaningfully: Blue Cross Blue Shield is the widest with a $35.7 spread, followed by Aetna at $24.8 and UnitedHealth Group at $20.3. Cigna’s spread is $26.8. BUCA’s IQR is $26.1 and Medicare’s IQR is $22. Differences in these ranges highlight where commercial rates are most variable versus the tighter clustering seen with Medicare.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presents to the emergency department with increased shortness of breath, productive cough, and pleuritic chest discomfort. The emergency physician orders a two-view chest radiograph to evaluate for pneumonia, acute COPD exacerbation, cardiopulmonary decompensation, or a focal consolidation. The radiology technologist performs frontal and lateral views as a standard minimum of two views for 71046. The radiologist interprets the images, documents findings (for example, lobar consolidation, hyperinflation, or a nonspecific lung field opacity), and issues a report within the ED workflow. The ED diagnosis codes billed may include J44.1 for COPD with acute exacerbation and J18.9 if imaging supports pneumonia, or R91.8 if an abnormal lung field finding requires follow-up.

    Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient radiology department, emergency department radiology suite, or freestanding imaging center.

    Service type: Diagnostic radiology imaging of the chest using at least two radiographic views to assess lungs, pleura, heart size, and adjacent structures.

    Common clinical steps: triage and history by ED clinician, imaging order placed, patient transport to radiology, technologist performs 71046 using standard positioning and exposure, image acquisition and preliminary review, radiologist final read and report, and clinician integrates imaging findings into diagnosis and treatment plan.

    Related CPT Codes

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    1744R1103X
    261QR1300X
    261QL0400X
    261QP0905X
    207SG0202X
    376G00000X
    2083P0500X
    207RH0003X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A15.0Tuberculosis of lung
    B34.9Viral infection, unspecified
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    G93.41Metabolic encephalopathy
    I20.9Angina pectoris, unspecified
    I21.9Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified
    I50.9Heart failure, unspecified
    J15.9Unspecified bacterial pneumonia
    J18.9Pneumonia, unspecified organism
    J20.9Acute bronchitis, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-71045-CHEST-RADIOGRAPH-SINGLE-VIEW

    CPT 71045: Chest Radiologic Examination, Single View

    CPT-71047-CHEST-RADIOGRAPH-THREE-VIEWS

    CPT 71047: Chest Radiograph, Minimum Three Views

    CPT-71048-CHEST-RADIOGRAPHY-FOUR-VIEWS

    CPT 71048: Chest Radiography, Minimum Four Views

    CPT-71100-TWO-VIEW-UNILATERAL-RIB-RADIOGRAPH

    CPT 71100: Two-View Unilateral Radiographs of Ribs

    CPT-71101-THREE-VIEW-UNILATERAL-RIBS-STUDY-PA-CHEST

    CPT 71101: Three-View Unilateral Rib Radiographic Study

    CPT-71110-THREE-VIEW-BILATERAL-RIB-RADIOGRAPHS

    CPT 71110: Three-View Bilateral Rib Radiographs

    CPT-71111-RIBS-RADIOLOGICAL-STUDY-FOUR-VIEWS-CHEST-PA

    CPT 71111: Radiologic Study of Ribs with Chest View

    CPT-71120-STERNUM-TWO-VIEW-RADIOGRAPH

    CPT 71120: Two-View Radiographic Study of Sternum

    CPT-71130-STERNOCLAVICULAR-JOINT-RADIOGRAPHIC-THREE-VIEWS

    CPT 71130: Sternoclavicular Joint Radiography, Minimum Three Views

    CPT-71250-CT-THORAX-WITHOUT-CONTRAST

    CPT 71250: CT Thorax without Contrast

    Showing 1–10 of 18

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    CPT Code
    Description
    Relationship to This Procedure
    71045Radiologic examination, chest; minimum two viewsAlternative descriptor sometimes used interchangeably in payer policies; represents a standard two-view chest radiograph option in clinical workflows.

    71047 | Radiologic examination, chest; frontal and lateral, minimum two views | Represents chest radiography explicitly specifying frontal and lateral views; may be used when documentation confirms those specific projections.

    71048 | Radiologic examination, chest; frontal and lateral and oblique views, minimum three views | Used when additional oblique views are obtained beyond the two-view study, for example when further detail of a focal abnormality is required.