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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging) Procedures of the Gastrointestinal TractCPT cpt-74250-small-bowel-single-contrast-barium-study
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    CPT 74250: Small Bowel Single‑Contrast Barium Study

    Medicare pays $82 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 74250 describes a single-contrast small bowel radiographic study in which barium is instilled through a tube passed via the nose or mouth into the duodenum or small intestine, including a scout film if performed and sequential X‑ray exposures after contrast instillation; service type: fluoroscopic small bowel series/contrast radiography; typical site of service: radiology department or hospital imaging suite (fluoroscopy unit).

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policy, Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal Incontinence.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient with a history of chronic intermittent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, and suspected small bowel obstruction is referred from the emergency department to radiology for evaluation. The gastroenterologist requests evaluation of small-bowel transit and mucosal filling defects after prior inconclusive abdominal radiographs and CT. The radiology team schedules a fluoroscopic small-bowel follow-through with nasoduodenal tube placement for single-contrast barium infusion under fluoroscopic guidance.

    The clinical workflow includes pre-procedure verification of indications and allergies, placement of a nasogastric or nasoduodenal tube with fluoroscopic confirmation of tip location in the duodenum or proximal jejunum, a scout abdominal radiograph if indicated, instillation of single-contrast barium via the tube, and sequential fluoroscopic X-ray exposures to document contrast progression through the small intestine. The procedure is performed in an outpatient radiology suite or hospital radiology department with monitoring for aspiration risk; images are archived and a radiology report is issued to the referring provider. CPT 74250 is coded for the service and may be accompanied by modifiers for professional/technical components, unusual services, or circumstances as appropriate.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    71010Radiologic examination, chest; single view, frontalPre-procedural or post-procedural chest radiograph to assess aspiration risk or tube position when indicated.
    74240Radiologic examination, small intestine, single or double contrast, initial or follow-through; initial radiological supervision and interpretationPerformed when small-bowel contrast study without enteric tube is done; may be an alternative or complement to 74250.
    49440Insertion of tunneled intraperitoneal catheter, with subcutaneous port or pump, with ultrasound guidance and fluoroscopyNot routine; included here as an example of image-guided access procedures performed by radiology when advanced enteric access is required.
    43760Insertion, nasoenteric tube, diagnostic or therapeutic, requiring fluoroscopic guidanceCaptures the tube placement portion when separately reportable in some settings; relates directly to tube placement for 74250.
    76000Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement (diagnostic) (e.g., biopsy, aspiration), radiological supervision and interpretationRepresents ancillary fluoroscopic guidance services that may be reported when additional image guidance beyond routine is required.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2084P0800X
    207K00000X
    2085R0202X
    163W00000X
    229N00000X
    225700000X
    103TW0100X
    163WI0600X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E86.0Dehydration
    E86.1Hypovolemia
    K21.9Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis
    K29.70Gastritis, unspecified, without bleeding
    K29.71Gastritis, unspecified, with bleeding
    K31.89Other diseases of stomach and duodenum
    K50.00Crohn's disease of small intestine without complications
    K51.90Ulcerative colitis, unspecified, without complications
    K52.9Noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis, unspecified
    K55.9Vascular disorder of intestine, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Gastroenterology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disordersbcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policyevicore2026-11-05
    Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal IncontinenceCigna2026-10-15
    Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA)Premera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Gastroesophageal and Gastrointestinal (GI) Services and ProceduresColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    Serum Testing for Hepatic Fibrosis in the Evaluation and Monitoring of Chronic Liver DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pancreatic Enzyme Testing for Acute PancreatitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Helicobacter pylori TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-74210-PHARYNX-CERVICAL-ESOPHAGUS-CONTRAST-STUDY

    CPT 74210: Radiologic Exam of Pharynx and Cervical Esophagus with Contrast

    CPT-74220-ESOPHAGRAM-FLUOROSCOPIC-BARIUM-SWALLOW

    CPT 74220: Fluoroscopic Esophagram (Barium Swallow)

    CPT-74221-DOUBLE-CONTRAST-ESOPHAGRAM-BARIUM-EFFERVESCENT

    CPT 74221: Double-Contrast Esophagram with Barium and Effervescent Agent

    CPT-74230-VIDEOFLUOROSCOPIC-SWALLOW-STUDY

    CPT 74230: Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study

    CPT-74235-ESOPHAGEAL-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION

    CPT 74235: Imaging Supervision for Esophageal Foreign Body Removal

    CPT-74240-UPPER-GASTROINTESTINAL-SERIES-BARIUM-CONTRAST

    CPT 74240: Upper Gastrointestinal Barium Contrast Study

    CPT-74246-UPPER-GI-DOUBLE-CONTRAST-FLUOROSCOPY

    CPT 74246: Upper GI Series with Air and High-Density Barium

    CPT-74248-SMALL-INTESTINE-FOLLOW-THROUGH-AFTER-UPPER-GASTROINTESTINAL-STUDY

    CPT 74248: Small Intestine Follow-Through, Multiple Series

    CPT-74251-SMALL-BOWEL-DOUBLE-CONTRAST-ENTERIC-RADIOGRAPHY

    CPT 74251: Small Bowel Double-Contrast Enteroclysis

    CPT-74261-CT-COLONOGRAPHY-NO-CONTRAST

    CPT 74261: CT Colon, Non-Contrast

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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