CPT 73130: Hand X‑ray, Minimum Three Views
CPT code 73130 identifies a diagnostic radiography service comprising at least three hand X‑ray views to evaluate suspected fracture, swelling, or hand pain. This code is widely used across outpatient imaging centers, urgent care clinics, emergency departments, and physician offices when clinicians need multi‑view imaging to assess acute or chronic hand complaints. Nationally, accurate coding for 73130 matters for proper clinical documentation, imaging utilization measurement, and alignment with payer coverage policies.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find concise information on the clinical context in which 73130 is used, common sites of service, and how this procedure fits into typical care pathways for hand injury and pain. The publication also provides benchmarking context and payer coverage considerations where available and notes relevant policy and coding practice updates that affect imaging utilization.
This summary is intended for a national audience of billing professionals, radiology and emergency clinicians, and policy analysts seeking a clear overview of the code’s clinical purpose, typical use settings, and the payer landscape relevant to hand radiography.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 73130 describes a diagnostic radiographic procedure of the hand in which a minimum of three X‑ray images are obtained to evaluate for fracture, swelling, or other causes of hand pain.
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Service type: Diagnostic radiography of the hand
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Typical site of service: Outpatient radiology departments, hospital imaging centers, urgent care clinics, and physician offices equipped for diagnostic X‑ray
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult presenting to an urgent care center or emergency department after a fall onto an outstretched hand or direct trauma to the hand with localized pain, swelling, and point tenderness over a digit or the carpal-metacarpal region. The triage nurse documents mechanism and neurovascular status; a focused hand and wrist exam is completed by the clinician. When fracture is suspected, the clinician orders radiographs of the affected hand. Radiologic technologists obtain a minimum of three views (commonly PA, lateral, and oblique) using CPT 73130. Images are reviewed by the interpreting physician (radiologist or orthopedist); findings such as fracture, dislocation, bony alignment, or soft-tissue swelling guide immediate management (immobilization, reduction, referral to hand surgery) and follow-up imaging if needed. Typical sites of service are outpatient radiology departments, emergency departments, and urgent care clinics.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the interpreting physician's component separate from technical component |
50 | Bilateral procedure | Use when radiographs are performed on both hands and payer requires bilateral modifier |
52 | Reduced services | Use when exam is incomplete or fewer images obtained than typical |
59 | Distinct procedural service | Use when another distinct procedural service is performed on the same date requiring separate reporting |
76 | Repeat procedure by same physician | Use when the same service is repeated later the same day by the same provider |
77 | Repeat procedure by another physician | Use when the same service is repeated by a different provider the same day |
90 | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
TC | Technical component | Use when billing only the technical component (facility/equipment) of the radiographic service |
LT | Left side | Use to indicate left hand imaging when side-specific reporting is required |
RT | Right side | Use to indicate right hand imaging when side-specific reporting is required |
59 | Distinct procedural service | Use when imaging is separately identifiable from other services performed on same date |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2080P0200X | Diagnostic Radiology | Interpreting radiologist for hand radiographs |
207RH0000X | Emergency Medicine | Clinicians ordering and initial managing providers in ED/urgent care |
207L00000X | Orthopedic Surgery | Orthopedists and hand surgeons who evaluate fractures and read images |
367R00000X | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | Providers involved in follow-up care and functional assessment |
261QP2300X | Family Medicine | Primary care and urgent care clinicians ordering hand radiographs |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
S62.501A | Unspecified fracture of right wrist and hand, initial encounter for closed fracture | Common code when a fracture is identified on hand radiographs |
S62.502A | Unspecified fracture of left wrist and hand, initial encounter for closed fracture | Used when the left hand/wrist fracture is identified |
S62.6XXA | Fracture of metacarpal bone, initial encounter for closed fracture | Metacarpal fractures are frequent findings on hand x-rays |
S62.20XA | Fracture of unspecified carpal bone, initial encounter for closed fracture | Carpal bone fractures (e.g., scaphoid) often prompt hand radiographs |
S60.01XA | Contusion of right finger, initial encounter | Soft-tissue injury presenting with pain/swelling that may require imaging to exclude fracture |
M25.539 | Pain in unspecified hand | Non-specific hand pain prompting diagnostic radiographs |
S63.501A | Sprain of right wrist, initial encounter | Sprains may be imaged to exclude associated bony injury |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
73120 | Radiologic examination; wrist; 2 views | Performed when injury involves distal wrist or to include wrist series in addition to hand views |
73110 | Radiologic examination; forearm; 2 views | Used if mechanism suggests injury proximal to the wrist and forearm imaging is required |
73030 | Radiologic examination; finger(s); minimum 2 views | Performed if injury is isolated to a single finger rather than whole hand |
73040 | Radiologic examination; thumb; minimum 2 views | Used when the thumb is the primary site of injury and requires dedicated images |
73000 | Radiologic examination; shoulder; minimum 2 views | May be performed in polytrauma or when injury involves more proximal upper extremity structures |