Summary & Overview
CPT 77080: Dual–Energy X‑Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) of Trunk
CPT code 77080 denotes a dual–energy X–ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan of one or more bony areas on the trunk to measure bone mineral density and detect osteopenia or osteoporosis. This diagnostic imaging code underpins clinical decision-making for fracture risk assessment and management of metabolic bone disease, making it a routine and nationally relevant service in preventive and chronic care.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical purpose of the code, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape covering major national commercial insurers and Medicare. The publication summarizes coverage considerations, common billing modifiers, and operational implications for imaging providers.
The report equips readers with: clinical context for when DXA is billed using CPT code 77080; an outline of payer coverage presence among major insurers; and practical benchmarking and policy highlights relevant to billing, claims processing, and care pathways. Data not provided in the input (such as specific payer policies, frequency limits, or associated ICD-10 codes) are noted as unavailable where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 77080 describes a dual–energy X–ray absorptiometry (DXA) imaging procedure of one or more bony areas on the trunk to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and assess for osteopenia or osteoporosis. The procedure is a diagnostic imaging service that produces quantitative measurements used in clinical evaluation of bone health.
Service Type: Diagnostic imaging — bone density measurement (DXA)
Typical Site of Service: Imaging center, hospital outpatient radiology department, or clinic-based radiology service
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 68-year-old postmenopausal woman referred by her primary care physician for evaluation of bone health after a low-trauma wrist fracture and with risk factors including long-term glucocorticoid use and a family history of hip fracture. The clinical workflow begins with the ordering provider documenting the indication (screening, diagnostic, or monitoring), selecting the anatomic sites for measurement (lumbar spine and bilateral hips or proximal femur), and placing the order for a dual–energy X–ray absorptiometry test. Scheduling staff confirm pretest instructions (e.g., no recent barium studies, removal of metallic objects) and the patient arrives at an outpatient radiology or densitometry center. A certified technologist performs the 77080 DXA scan, acquires images and BMD measurements, and generates a report that includes T-scores and Z-scores. The interpreting physician (often a radiologist, endocrinologist, or rheumatologist) provides the final read, documents results and clinical impression in the medical record, and forwards recommendations to the referring provider for management of osteopenia or osteoporosis. Typical sites of service include outpatient radiology departments, ambulatory imaging centers, and hospital-based outpatient clinics. Service type: diagnostic imaging (bone densitometry).
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component |