CPT code 71270 represents a CT scan of the thorax performed without contrast followed by contrast-enhanced imaging during the same session. This dual-phase CT study is used to evaluate pulmonary parenchyma, mediastinal structures, pleura, and vascular anatomy with both native and contrast-enhanced views, improving diagnostic sensitivity for lesions, vascular processes, and inflammatory conditions. Nationally, accurate reporting of this code affects imaging utilization, clinical pathways for chest disease evaluation, and facility billing for combined non-contrast and contrast CT services. Key payers in typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will find: clinical context for when a combined non-contrast and contrast chest CT is performed; common sites of service and service type classification; typical payer coverage considerations and common modifier use (listed separately); and benchmarking and policy topics relevant to imaging utilization and documentation. Data not available in the input is noted where payer-specific reimbursement amounts, associated taxonomies, and ICD-10 linkage would normally appear. This publication focuses on national-level implications for coding, clinical interpretation, and administrative considerations for CPT code 71270.