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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging) Procedures of the ChestCPT cpt-71047-chest-radiograph-three-views
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    CPT 71047: Chest Radiograph, Minimum Three Views

    Medicare pays $28 and commercial payers pay $79 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 71047 describes a diagnostic radiologic study of the chest comprising a minimum of three views for evaluation of the chest, its contents, and adjacent structures; this is a diagnostic chest radiography service typically performed in radiology departments or outpatient imaging centers for assessment of pulmonary and thoracic conditions.

    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

    Medicare’s mean payment of $28.5 for CPT 71047 sits well below BUCA’s average commercial mean of $78.9, indicating that commercial reimbursement for this code is roughly $50.4 higher than the federal baseline. This gap underscores the typical divergence between Medicare and commercial rates for diagnostic imaging services.

    Examining dispersion via the interquartile spread (P75 minus P25) highlights variability across payers: Blue Cross Blue Shield shows a spread of $30.0 ($122.0 - $90.7), UnitedHealth Group has $24.7 ($48.6 - $22.9), Cigna has $30.1 ($57.2 - $24.1), Aetna is $19.0 ($38.1 - $18.2), and BUCA’s spread is $29.1 ($90.2 - $61.1). Aetna is the tightest payer by this measure, while Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna are among the widest, with BUCA also demonstrating substantial commercial dispersion.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 64-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with acute worsening shortness of breath, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain. Vital signs show fever and increased work of breathing. The emergency physician orders a diagnostic chest radiographic series to evaluate for pneumonia, pneumothorax, congestive changes, or other acute cardiopulmonary processes. The radiology technologist acquires a minimum of three views (commonly posteroanterior upright, lateral, and an additional oblique or lordotic view as clinically indicated). The radiologist interprets the study and issues a report noting focal consolidation suspicious for pneumonia, an ill-defined nodule, or no acute cardiopulmonary disease. The imaging result is used by the treating team to guide antibiotic initiation, supplemental oxygen, further chest imaging (such as chest CT), or disposition (admit vs. discharge). This workflow typically occurs in the hospital radiology department, emergency department imaging suite, or an outpatient imaging center when the clinical question requires at least three views for adequate assessment.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    71045Radiologic examination, chest; single viewA simpler chest radiograph option when only one view is required for the clinical question; may be selected when limited imaging suffices.

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    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…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    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…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    246R00000X
    207KA0200X
    207ZF0201X
    261QS0132X
    125J00000X
    103TH0100X
    207SG0203X
    2080P0203X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    29 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A15.0Tuberculosis of lung
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    B37.9Candidiasis, unspecified
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C50.919Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of unspecified female breast
    I26.99Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale
    I50.9Heart failure, unspecified
    I51.9Heart disease, unspecified
    J00Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold]
    J10.1Influenza due to other identified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations

    Showing 1–10 of 29

    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-71046-CHEST-RADIOGRAPH-MULTI-VIEW

    CPT 71046: Chest Radiologic Exam, Minimum Two 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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    71046
    Radiologic examination, chest; 2 views
    For cases where two standard views are adequate; 71047 is used when at least three views are performed.
    71048Radiologic examination, chest; 4 or more viewsUsed when a more comprehensive multi-view chest series is needed beyond three views; represents greater imaging extent than 71047.