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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesBone/Joint StudiesCPT cpt-77080-dxa-bone-density-trunk
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    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.

    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.

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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.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    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).

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    77078Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), axial skeleton (e.g., hips, pelvis, spine), single or multiple sites; two or more sites

    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…
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    207RH0000X
    207L00000X
    2084P0800X
    364SM0705X
    282NC2000X
    3336S0011X
    103TP2701X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    22 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E03.9Hypothyroidism, unspecified
    E55.9Vitamin D deficiency, unspecified
    E83.51Hypocalcemia
    E83.52Hypercalcemia
    M05.79Rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor of multiple sites without organ or systems involvement
    M15.0Primary generalized (osteo)arthritis
    M19.071Primary osteoarthritis, right ankle and foot
    M25.551Pain in right hip
    M25.561Pain in right knee
    M25.571Pain in right ankle and joints of right foot

    Showing 1–10 of 22

    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-77071-JOINT-RADIOGRAPHIC-STRESS-VIEWS

    CPT 77071: Stress Radiographic Views of a Joint

    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-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.
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    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.

    Used as an alternative axial-skeleton DXA code for billing when procedure documentation aligns with payer coding rules; some payers distinguish between 77078 and 77080.
    76977Ultrasound guidance for needle placement (e.g., for bone biopsy)Rarely related; included when DXA is part of broader bone health evaluation and procedures requiring image guidance are performed separately.
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesCommonly performed before or after DXA when the ordering provider documents evaluation, counseling, or management directly related to bone health.
    77081Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), axial skeleton, three or more sitesUsed in some settings when additional anatomic sites are measured; relates as an extended-site DXA option depending on clinical indication.
    76930Ultrasound, guidance for vascular access; not directly related but listed for comprehensive imaging workflowsMay appear in multiservice encounters within the imaging department though not directly tied to routine DXA.