Summary & Overview
CPT 73523: Bilateral Hip X-Rays, Multi-View
CPT code 73523 represents a bilateral hip radiographic exam with at least five views, used to assess fractures, swelling, degenerative disease, or other causes of hip pain; the pelvis may be included when performed. This code matters nationally because hip pain and trauma are common reasons for imaging in emergency departments, urgent care, and outpatient radiology settings, and standardized coding supports consistent clinical communication, utilization tracking, and payment processing across providers and payers. Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical purpose and typical sites where the service is delivered, the common modifiers associated with imaging services, and what to expect from national payer coverage patterns and billing practice benchmarks. The publication also summarizes coding contexts such as multi-view bilateral imaging versus single-side exams and highlights where CPT code 73523 is commonly applied in care pathways for acute hip pain and trauma. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 73523 describes a diagnostic radiology procedure consisting of a minimum of five X-ray images of both hips (left and right) from multiple projections. The exam is performed to evaluate for fracture, swelling, degenerative change, or other causes of hip pain, and may include the pelvis when performed.
Service type: Diagnostic hip radiographs (bilateral), multi-view.
Typical site of service: Radiology department or hospital outpatient imaging center, including emergency department when performed for acute hip pain or trauma.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old ambulatory patient presents to the radiology department from the emergency department with acute unilateral hip pain after a ground-level fall. The patient reports immediate pain in the groin and lateral hip with limited weight bearing. The emergency physician requests bilateral hip radiographs to assess for fracture, dislocation, or degenerative change; pelvis imaging may be included if clinically indicated. The radiology technologist obtains a minimum of five views of both hips (anterior-posterior pelvis, AP and cross-table lateral views of each hip, and frog-leg or oblique views as appropriate) per the order for 73523. Images are reviewed by the on-call musculoskeletal radiologist and preliminary findings (e.g., femoral neck fracture, acute avulsion, advanced osteoarthritis) are communicated to the ED clinician to guide urgent orthopedic consultation or discharge instructions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing physician/radiologist separately for interpretation only |
| 50 | Bilateral procedure | When the study intentionally includes both left and right hips (often inherent to 73523) |