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CPT 74176: CT Abdomen and Pelvis Without Contrast
CPT code 74176 identifies a non-contrast computed tomography (CT) examination of the abdomen and pelvis performed to evaluate abdominal or pelvic pain and identify internal organ abnormalities. As a commonly ordered diagnostic imaging study, this code is central to acute care workflows in emergency departments, outpatient imaging centers, and hospital radiology departments. Appropriate coding of 74176 affects clinical documentation, utilization tracking, and payer adjudication nationally.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides an overview of payer coverage practices and benchmarks for this service across major commercial insurers and the federal program.
Readers will find a concise clinical context for the examination, comparisons to related CT codes with and without contrast, and coverage considerations relevant to billing and claims processing. The summary also highlights common clinical indications and where 74176 fits within diagnostic imaging pathways. Data not provided in the input are noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 74176 describes a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast material. The service is used to evaluate causes of abdominal or pelvic pain and to assess abnormalities of internal organs in the abdominal and pelvic cavities.
Service type: Diagnostic imaging — CT (non-contrast) of abdomen and pelvis
Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology department
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National averages show a clear gap between Medicare and the BUCA commercial composite: Medicare’s mean sits at $126.70 while BUCA’s average commercial mean is much higher at $510.00, indicating commercial reimbursements for CPT 74176 are, on average, roughly four times Medicare levels. This gap highlights how commercial payment strategies diverge from Medicare’s baseline for this imaging code.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) varies notably by payer. Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest IQR at $268.90, signaling the largest middle-50% spread. Aetna and Cigna are relatively tighter with IQRs of $115.00 and $154.10 respectively, while UnitedHealth Group’s IQR is $129.40. BUCA’s IQR is $206.00 and Medicare’s IQR is $92.50, making Medicare one of the narrowest distributions among payers listed.