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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Endocrine SystemCPT cpt-78012-thyroid-radioiodine-uptake-study
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    CPT 78012: Radioiodine Thyroid Uptake, 4–24 Hour

    Medicare pays $56 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78012 describes a radioiodine thyroid uptake study in which the provider measures the amount of orally administered radioiodine that reaches the thyroid within a 4–24 hour period to evaluate thyroid function and determine causes of thyrotoxicosis; service type: diagnostic nuclear medicine uptake study performed in an outpatient imaging center or nuclear medicine department to assess whether the gland is overactive, underactive, or functioning normally.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Diabetic Supplies, Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid Nodules, Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Idaho Only).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 45-year-old female with symptoms of palpitations, weight loss, heat intolerance, and tremor is referred to nuclear medicine by her endocrinologist to evaluate suspected hyperthyroidism. The provider administers an oral diagnostic dose of radioiodine (I-123 or I-131 depending on institutional protocol) and measures thyroid uptake at selected times between 4 and 24 hours after ingestion. The clinical workflow includes: pretest counseling and medication review (holding interfering medications such as high-dose iodide, amiodarone, or recent iodine contrast when clinically appropriate), verification of pregnancy status in women of childbearing potential, administration of the tracer, timed uptake measurements using a gamma probe or scintillation camera, documentation of uptake percentages, and interpretation to determine whether the gland is overactive (elevated uptake as in Graves disease), underactive (reduced uptake as in thyroiditis), or functioning normally. Results guide management decisions such as antithyroid medication initiation, radioactive iodine therapy planning, or further imaging.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78015Thyroid uptake and imaging, including multiple time points and imagingPerformed when both quantitative uptake and planar imaging of the gland are required; complements 78012 when anatomic distribution is needed.
    78014Thyroid imaging only (without uptake quantification)Used when imaging is needed but uptake percentage measurements are not performed; may be an alternative depending on clinical question.
    78030Thyroid, single uptake, whole body imaging variations (note: placeholder for related nuclear medicine thyroid procedures)Represents other nuclear medicine thyroid procedures that may be ordered in different clinical workflows.
    78310Thyroid localization, qualitative whole body imagingUsed for related localization studies when metastatic or ectopic thyroid tissue is suspected after therapy.

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RH0000X
    2084P0800X
    207L00000X
    163WP0000X
    374J00000X
    332BC3200X
    261QR0404X
    2081P0301X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E01.0Iodine-deficiency related diffuse (endemic) goiter
    E01.1Iodine-deficiency related multinodular (endemic) goiter
    E03.9Hypothyroidism, unspecified
    E05.00Thyrotoxicosis with diffuse goiter without thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    E05.01Thyrotoxicosis with diffuse goiter with thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    E05.10Thyrotoxicosis with toxic single thyroid nodule without thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    E05.40Thyrotoxicosis factitia without thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    E05.41Thyrotoxicosis factitia with thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    E05.80Other thyrotoxicosis without thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    E05.81Other thyrotoxicosis with thyrotoxic crisis or storm

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Endocrinology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Diabetic SuppliesCigna2026-10-15
    Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid NodulesCigna2026-10-15
    Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv) CoverageUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Indiana Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Insulin PumpsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Continuous Glucose MonitorsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Continuous Glucose MonitoringAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01
    Salivary Hormone TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Bone Turnover Markers TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-78013-THYROID-RADIOIODINE-IMAGING-UPTAKE

    CPT 78013: Thyroid Scintigraphy with Radioiodine Imaging

    CPT-78014-THYROID-RADIOIODINE-UPTAKE-IMAGING

    CPT 78014: Thyroid Radioiodine Uptake and Imaging

    CPT-78015-THYROID-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78015: Thyroid Scan, Nuclear Medicine

    CPT-78016-THYROID-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-IMAGING

    CPT 78016: Thyroid Scan, Nuclear Medicine

    CPT-78018-THYROID-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-IMAGING

    CPT 78018: Thyroid Scan, Radionuclide Imaging

    CPT-78020-THYROID-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78020: Thyroid Scan, Nuclear Medicine

    CPT-78070-PARATHYROID-DUAL-TRACER-IMAGING-SUBTRACTION-STUDY

    CPT 78070: Parathyroid Imaging with Dual Tracer/Subtraction

    CPT-78071-SPECT-PARATHYROID-IMAGING-DUAL-TRACER

    CPT 78071: SPECT Parathyroid Imaging with Planar/Subtraction Study

    CPT-78072-PARATHYROID-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-SPECT-CT-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78072: Parathyroid Nuclear Medicine Imaging with SPECT/CT

    CPT-78075-FUNCTIONAL-ADRENAL-NUCLEAR-IMAGING

    CPT 78075: Functional Adrenal Imaging with Radiotracer

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    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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