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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Musculoskeletal SystemCPT cpt-78300-bone-scan-limited-area-scintigraphy
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    CPT 78300: Bone Scan (Limited Area Scintigraphy)

    Medicare pays $139 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78300 describes a bone scan (scintigraphy) procedure in which a radionuclide is injected and imaging is performed of a limited area such as a single bone or joint to evaluate bone pathology; this is a nuclear medicine diagnostic service typically provided in an outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology/nuclear medicine department using planar or SPECT techniques to assess focal bone lesions.

    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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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old ambulatory male with a history of prostate cancer presents with new onset localized bone pain in the pelvis. The oncology team requests a targeted nuclear medicine bone scan of the pelvis to evaluate for metastatic disease. The patient arrives to an outpatient radiology suite. The nuclear medicine technologist obtains IV access and injects a radionuclide tracer (commonly Tc-99m-labeled diphosphonate). After an appropriate uptake period, the nuclear medicine physician performs scintigraphic imaging of the limited pelvic region, acquiring planar and/or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images as indicated. The physician interprets images, documents findings in the report, and provides face-to-face consultation if necessary. Results are routed to the referring oncologist for management decisions.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78300Bone imaging, limited area; planarThis is the primary code for a localized bone scan after radionuclide injection to image a single bone or joint.
    78306Bone imaging; whole body, planarUsed when a full skeletal survey is required instead of a limited-area study; may be performed when suspicious multifocal disease is present.
    78830PET imaging, whole body, tumor imagingMay be performed as an alternative or subsequent metabolic imaging study for oncologic staging when PET is indicated.
    78110Uptake, thyroid, single or multiple studiesDifferent nuclear medicine procedure; listed here as commonly encountered in the same service line but not directly related diagnostically.
    78014Myocardial imaging, planar or SPECT; single day stress and rest studyAnother nuclear medicine service performed in nuclear medicine departments; may share technical resources or scheduling considerations.

    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2084P0800X
    207L00000X
    2084N0400X
    367H00000X
    207VM0101X
    207WX0110X
    261QM3000X
    163WP0000X

    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-78305-BONE-SCAN-SCINTIGRAPHY-MULTI-REGION

    CPT 78305: Bone Scan (Skeletal Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78306-FULL-BODY-BONE-SCAN-SCINTIGRAPHY

    CPT 78306: Full‑Body Bone Scan (Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78315-THREE-PHASE-BONE-SCAN-SCINTIGRAPHY

    CPT 78315: Three-Phase Bone Scan (Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78350-BONE-MINERAL-DENSITY-SINGLE-PHOTON-ABSORPTIOMETRY

    CPT 78350: Single-Energy Photon Bone Mineral Density Measurement

    CPT-78351-BONE-MINERAL-DENSITY-DUAL-ENERGY-PHOTON-ABSORPTIOMETRY

    CPT 78351: Dual-Energy Photon Bone Mineral Density Measurement

    CPT-78399-MUSCULOSKELETAL-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-UNLISTED-PROCEDURE

    CPT 78399: Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedure (Unlisted)

    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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