CPT 73525 Hip Arthrography Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 73525: Hip Arthrography Imaging Supervision and Interpretation

CPT code 73525 denotes the imaging supervision and interpretation component of hip arthrography in which contrast is injected into the hip joint and a series of X‑rays are obtained to evaluate joint structures. Nationally, this code matters because it separates the professional interpretation fee from the technical and procedural services involved in hip joint contrast studies, supporting accurate billing and clearer allocation of professional imaging resources. Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will find a concise explanation of what CPT code 73525 represents, how it is typically used in clinical imaging workflows, and where the service is commonly performed. The publication provides benchmarks and payer coverage context, highlights common billing modifiers and practice considerations, and summarizes the clinical context for hip arthrography imaging. Data not available in the input regarding associated taxonomies, specific ICD‑10 diagnoses, related codes, and service-line financial details is noted as unavailable. The content is intended for national audiences involved in coding, billing, imaging administration, and payer policy interpretation.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare73525CPThip arthrographydiagnostic imagingimaging supervisionradiologymusculoskeletalprofessional interpretation

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 73525 describes imaging supervision and interpretation for a hip joint study that includes intra-articular injection of contrast material and serial X‑rays to evaluate joint structures. This code represents only the imaging supervision and interpretation component of the procedure; the injection or other technical services are reported separately when applicable.

Service type: Diagnostic imaging supervision and interpretation for contrast arthrography of the hip
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient imaging department or freestanding imaging center

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 56-year-old patient presents to the outpatient radiology suite with persistent unilateral groin pain and limited hip range of motion after conservative management for suspected osteoarthritis and possible labral tear. The orthopedic surgeon requests a fluoroscopic hip arthrogram with intra-articular contrast to evaluate cartilage surfaces, the acetabular labrum, and joint capsule integrity prior to possible arthroscopy. The patient is screened for contrast allergy and coagulation status, informed consent is obtained, and the procedure is performed in an X-ray/fluoroscopy suite. Under sterile technique, a radiologist or orthopedic surgeon places a needle into the hip joint under fluoroscopic guidance, injects iodinated contrast, and acquires a series of spot and dynamic fluoroscopic images as contrast disperses through the joint. The interpreting provider documents imaging supervision and interpretation findings, including contrast distribution, labral tears or fissuring, cartilage defects, and any extra-articular leakage. Billing for supervision and interpretation only is reported with 73525; the technical component for facility supplies, fluoroscopy equipment time, and radiology technologist services may be billed separately as the technical component when applicable.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	When billing only the physician interpretation/supervision portion for in a split-billing scenario.

Related Codes

CPT-73650-CALCANEUS-XRAY-TWO-VIEWS

CPT 73650: Calcaneus X‑ray, Minimum Two Views

CPT-73523-BILATERAL-HIP-X-RAYS-MULTI-VIEW

CPT 73523: Bilateral Hip X-Rays, Multi-View

CPT-73725-LOWER-EXTREMITY-MRA-ARTERIAL-EVALUATION

CPT 73725: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Lower Extremity, With/Without Contrast

CPT-73615-ANKLE-ARTHROGRAPHY-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION

CPT 73615: Ankle Arthrography Imaging Supervision and Interpretation

CPT-73630-FOOT-RADIOGRAPHY-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 73630: Foot Radiography, Minimum Three Views

CPT-73565-STANDING-KNEE-WEIGHT-BEARING-XRAY

CPT 73565: Standing Weight-Bearing Knee Radiographs

CPT-73502-HIP-XRAY-TWO-THREE-PROJECTIONS

CPT 73502: Hip X‑ray, Two or Three Projections

CPT-73720-MRI-LOWER-EXTREMITY-NON-JOINT-WITH-AND-WITHOUT-CONTRAST

CPT 73720: MRI of Lower Extremity, Non-Joint, Without and With Contrast

CPT-73592-INFANT-LOWER-EXTREMITY-XRAY-MULTIPLE-VIEWS

CPT 73592: Infant Lower Extremity X‑ray, Two or More Views

CPT-73560-KNEE-XRAY-ONE-OR-TWO-VIEWS

CPT 73560: Knee X‑ray, One or Two Views

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73525

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207RR0500X`	Diagnostic Radiology	Radiologists commonly perform fluoroscopic guidance and interpret hip arthrograms.
`207XS0102X`	Orthopaedic Surgery	Orthopedic surgeons may perform image-guided hip injections and interpret arthrogram findings preoperatively.
`363A00000X`	Physiatry (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)	Physiatrists sometimes perform diagnostic injections and interpret joint studies for nonoperative management.
`2080P0204X`	Interventional Radiology	Interventional radiologists perform image-guided joint injections when procedural complexity or patient comorbidity requires subspecialty care.
`208000000X`	General Radiology	General radiologists also supervise and interpret arthrogram imaging in many facilities.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`M16.11`	Unilateral primary osteoarthritis of right hip	Common indication for hip arthrogram to evaluate cartilage loss and joint space pathology before surgical planning.
`M16.12`	Unilateral primary osteoarthritis of left hip	Same relevance for the contralateral hip when symptomatic.
`M24.251`	Other specific joint derangement, right hip	Used when clinical exam suggests internal derangement such as labral tear.
`M24.252`	Other specific joint derangement, left hip	Contralateral equivalent for suspected labral pathology.
`S73.001A`	Unspecified dislocation of unspecified hip, initial encounter	Traumatic cases may use arthrography to assess intra-articular damage or incongruity following dislocation.
`M75.2`	Bursitis of shoulder (not hip)	Data not relevant — do not use.
`M23.21`	Derangement of meniscus due to old tear or injury, right knee	Not applicable to hip arthrogram; exclude.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`20610`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa (e.g., shoulder, hip, knee)	Often used when a diagnostic or therapeutic joint injection without imaging guidance is performed; may be billed if contrast injection is performed without fluoroscopic supervision (not typically concurrent with `73525`).
`77002`	Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement (e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection), imaging supervision and interpretation	Sometimes billed in conjunction when separate fluoroscopic guidance is reported; however, for hip arthrogram guidance and interpretation `73525` specifically represents the imaging supervision and interpretation for the hip joint study.
`72195`	Radiologic examination, pelvis; single view, with or without fluoroscopic guidance	May be performed as adjunct radiographs of the pelvis/hip before or after arthrogram to correlate anatomy.
`73522`	Radiologic examination, hip, unilateral; arthrography, including injection and imaging (non-contrast or contrast)	Related arthrography codes for hip imaging; used when both injection and imaging technical components are billed by a single provider performing the complete service.
`73030`	Radiologic examination, shoulder; arthrography, including injection and imaging	Example of arthrography code for another joint; included as a workflow analog when multiple joint arthrograms are performed in the same episode of care.