Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • NPI Medicare & Medicaid
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesBone/Joint StudiesCPT cpt-77071-joint-radiographic-stress-views
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 77071: Stress Radiographic Views of a Joint

    Medicare pays $61 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 77071 describes radiographic stress views of a joint obtained by a radiology technologist while a physician or qualified provider applies stress to hold the joint in a position not achievable with routine positioning; these specialized X‑ray images are used to evaluate the extent of injury or healing and may include imaging of the contralateral joint when necessary. Service type: diagnostic radiography with physician-applied stress. Typical site of service: outpatient radiology department, hospital radiology suite, or ambulatory imaging center.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM), Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®), Lumbar Microdiscectomy.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 77071 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 77071 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

    Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 7

    Explore openpayer tools

    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
    • Reimbursement RatesCommercial vs. Medicare rate reports
    • Facility ComparisonBeds, revenue & payer mix
    • ProvidersHospitals & facilities
    • PayersPlans & market footprint
    • Taxonomy CodesNUCC specialty codes
    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
    • Prior AuthorizationPA policies by payer & drug
    • Timely FilingFiling deadlines by payer
    • Coverage CriteriaMedical necessity by payer
    • Payer ContactsClaims, PA & appeals contacts
    View all tools

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 28-year-old patient presents to an outpatient radiology department after an acute ankle inversion injury sustained during sports. The orthopedic surgeon requests stress radiographs of the ankle to assess the integrity of the lateral ligament complex and to quantify talar tilt that cannot be appreciated on routine static views. The patient is registered at check-in, screening and consent are confirmed, and the radiology technologist prepares the imaging room. The physician or other qualified healthcare provider positions at the bedside and applies manual varus/valgus or anterior/posterior stress to the joint to reproduce instability while the technologist acquires X-ray images. Images may include comparison views of the contralateral ankle when requested. The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient radiology suite, hospital radiology department, or ambulatory surgical center when preoperative assessment or postoperative healing evaluation requires stress imaging. The study results are reviewed by the interpreting radiologist and the ordering orthopedic provider to guide surgical planning or conservative management decisions.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    73030Radiologic examination, shoulder; complete, minimum of two viewsRoutine radiographic views often obtained before stress views for shoulder instability evaluation.
    73560Radiologic examination, ankle; complete, minimum of 3 viewsStandard ankle radiographs typically performed prior to or in conjunction with stress views to assess bony injury.
    73630Radiologic examination, foot; complete, minimum of 3 viewsFoot radiographs may be performed when stress evaluation involves adjacent foot structures.
    72100Radiologic examination, spine, cervical; 1 or 2 viewsCervical spine series are unrelated in many cases but listed as a frequently paired musculoskeletal imaging code in some workflows.
    77072Fluoroscopic guidance for stress view of a joint (if applicable)Used when fluoroscopic real-time imaging is required for dynamic stress testing rather than static radiographs.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    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…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207L00000X
    2086S0122X
    363A00000X
    163WX0800X
    1835N0905X
    246ZB0600X
    333600000X
    156FX1101X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    M19.011Primary osteoarthritis, right shoulder
    M19.012Primary osteoarthritis, left shoulder
    M19.071Primary osteoarthritis, right ankle and foot
    M19.072Primary osteoarthritis, left ankle and foot
    M24.211Disorder of ligament, right shoulder
    M25.511Pain in right shoulder
    M25.512Pain in left shoulder
    M25.521Pain in right elbow
    M25.522Pain in left elbow
    M25.561Pain in right knee

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)Kaiser Permanente2027-01-01
    Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®)bcbsvermont2026-11-01
    Lumbar Microdiscectomyuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Discuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Responsive Neurostimulation for Focal EpilepsyPremera Bluecross2026-10-14
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    High-Intensity Focused UltrasoundMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Vagal Nerve StimulationAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-77072-SKELETAL-MATURITY-XRAY-HAND-WRIST

    CPT 77072: Skeletal Maturity (Bone Age) X‑ray

    CPT-77073-LOWER-EXTREMITY-LEG-LENGTH-MEASUREMENT

    CPT 77073: Lower Extremity Imaging for Leg Length Measurement

    CPT-77074-SKELETAL-RADIOGRAPHIC-SERIES-EVALUATION-OF-METASTATIC-DISEASE

    CPT 77074: Skeletal Survey for Evaluation of Bone Disease

    CPT-77075-WHOLE-BODY-SKELETAL-RADIOGRAPHY

    CPT 77075: Skeletal Survey for Metastatic Evaluation

    CPT-77076-INFANT-SKELETAL-XRAY

    CPT 77076: Infant Skeletal Radiography

    CPT-77077-JOINT-SURVEY-SINGLE-VIEW-PER-JOINT

    CPT 77077: Joint Survey, Single View per Joint

    CPT-77078-CT-BONE-DENSITY-AND-STRUCTURE-STUDY

    CPT 77078: CT Bone Density and Bone Mass Assessment

    CPT-77080-DXA-BONE-DENSITY-TRUNK

    CPT 77080: DXA Trunk Bone Mineral Density Measurement

    CPT-77081-DUAL-ENERGY-DXA-BONE-MINERAL-DENSITY

    CPT 77081: Dual Energy X‑Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) for BMD

    CPT-77084-MRI-BONE-MARROW-PERFUSION-EVALUATION

    CPT 77084: MRI Evaluation of Bone Marrow Perfusion

    Showing 1–10 of 16

    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.
    Published by

    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.