CPT 77080: DXA Trunk Bone Mineral Density Measurement
Medicare pays $27 and commercial payers pay $119 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 77080 describes a dual‑energy X‑ray absorptiometry (DXA) imaging procedure to measure bone mineral density (BMD) of one or more bony areas on the trunk; the service is an imaging diagnostic study typically performed in an outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology department to evaluate for osteopenia or osteoporosis.
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National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Commercial averages sit well above Medicare for CPT 77080: Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA show notably higher means than Medicare’s mean. Medicare’s mean is $27.4 while BUCA’s commercial mean is $119.1, indicating a substantial gap between public and some commercial pricing for this code. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s mean of $175.7 and UnitedHealth Group’s mean of $43.7 further illustrate commercial variability around and above the Medicare level.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile spread (P75−P25) is widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield at $58.3 (P75 $198.8 − P25 $140.5), followed by BUCA at $49.7 (P75 $138.7 − P25 $88.5). The tightest spreads are Aetna at $35.1 and Cigna at $44.7, with UnitedHealth Group showing a spread of $38.3. Medicare’s reported IQR is $29 (P75 $39 − P25 $10), situating its variability lower than the largest commercial payers but above the narrowest commercial spread.