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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Genitourinary SystemCPT cpt-78701-kidney-scan-nuclear-medicine-kidney-imaging
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    CPT 78701: Kidney Nuclear Scan (Cortical and Functional)

    Medicare pays $141 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78701 describes a nuclear medicine kidney scan used to evaluate renal structure and function, including cortical imaging to assess kidney shape and functional studies to measure tracer transit time through the kidneys into the bladder; the service is a diagnostic nuclear medicine renal imaging procedure typically performed in an outpatient imaging center, hospital radiology or nuclear medicine department, or specialized ambulatory diagnostic facility.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysis, Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family Plans, Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage Criteria.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult referred from nephrology or urology for a nuclear medicine renal scan to evaluate renal perfusion, function, and drainage. Common presentations include suspected renovascular hypertension, unilateral or bilateral decreased kidney function on serum testing or ultrasound, obstructive uropathy with hydronephrosis, suspected renal cortical scarring after recurrent urinary tract infections, or evaluation of differential renal function prior to surgery. The clinical workflow begins with outpatient or hospital ordering by the treating physician, pre-procedure screening for allergies and pregnancy status, and informed consent. On the day of service the patient arrives to the nuclear medicine or radiology department (typical site of service: outpatient imaging center, hospital radiology/nuclear medicine department, or inpatient imaging suite). An intravenous line is placed, the appropriate radiopharmaceutical is administered, and dynamic imaging is acquired over the kidneys for functional studies or static cortical imaging for morphological evaluation. Images are processed and quantitative measurements (e.g., differential renal function, time-to-peak, drainage curves) are generated. A nuclear medicine physician interprets the study and issues a report that is routed to the referring provider for management decisions such as angiography, intervention, or conservative therapy.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78800Radiopharmaceutical therapy; specific code depends on agent — Data not available in the input.Data not available in the input.
    74176Computed tomography, abdomen and pelvis, without contrast materialOften performed before or after renal scintigraphy to evaluate anatomic causes of obstruction or masses
    76770Ultrasound, complete abdominal; limited targeted studies like renal ultrasoundFrequently used as first-line imaging for hydronephrosis or renal size prior to nuclear renal scan
    90935Hemodialysis procedure with single evaluationMay be part of the clinical context for end-stage renal disease patients undergoing imaging (billing relationship varies)
    78597Renal scintigraphy, functional; includes time-activity curves (non-specific staging)Sometimes used for alternative or additional renal nuclear studies

    Note: If a list is empty or missing, the input required that only provided related CPT codes be listed. The input did not provide pre-populated related CPT codes; the table above identifies commonly associated procedures in clinical workflows.

    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…
    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…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    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…
    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…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    27Modifier 27 indicates a separate, subsequent outpatient hospital E/M service provided to the same patient on the same date by a different provider in a hospital outpatient setting. It is a…- Use modifier -27 on facility (hospital outpatient/ambulatory service center) claims to report a subsequent, separate, and distinct outpatient E/M service provided to the same patient on the same…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207K00000X
    208800000X
    1223G0001X
    347E00000X
    2472R0900X
    246QC2700X
    3336C0003X
    163WN0300X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Nephrology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysisCigna2026-08-15
    Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family PlansCigna2026-08-15
    Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-05
    Voyxact (sibeprenlimab-szsl) — Prior authorization / medical necessity for primary IgA nephropathyColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Oxlumo (lumasiran) and Rivfloza (nedosiran) — Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Korsuva (difelikefalin) — Medical Benefit Drug Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Complement Inhibitors - EmpaveliCigna2026-08-01
    Tolvaptan (Jynarque)Cigna2026-08-01
    Nephrology - Filspari (sparsentan) coverageCigna2026-08-01
    Rivfloza (nedosiran) prior authorization for PH1UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-78700-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-RENAL-FUNCTION

    CPT 78700: Kidney Scan (Cortical and Functional Renal Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78707-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78707: Kidney Scan (Renal Nuclear Medicine)

    CPT-78708-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-RENAL-IMAGING

    CPT 78708: Kidney Scan (Renal Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78709-KIDNEY-SCAN-RENAL-NUCLEAR-IMAGING

    CPT 78709: Renal Nuclear Medicine Scan

    CPT-78725-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-RENAL-IMAGING

    CPT 78725: Kidney Scan, Cortical and Functional

    CPT-78730-URETERAL-REFLUX-AND-BLADDER-FUNCTION-RADIOISOTOPE-STUDY

    CPT 78730: Ureteral Reflux Study with Bladder Functional Evaluation

    CPT-78740-VOIDING-CYSTOURETHROGRAM-URETERAL-REFLUX-EVALUATION

    CPT 78740: Voiding Cystourethrogram to Evaluate Ureteral Reflux

    CPT-78761-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-TESTICULAR-IMAGING-RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL

    CPT 78761: Scrotal Nuclear Medicine Scintigraphy for Acute Testicular Pain

    CPT-78799-DIAGNOSTIC-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-GENITOURINARY

    CPT 78799: Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedure, Genitourinary

    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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