Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • NPI Medicare & Medicaid
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine ProceduresCPT cpt-78803-spect-single-area-localization
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 78803: Single-Day SPECT Tumor/Tracer Localization

    Medicare pays $234 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78803 describes a single-day SPECT nuclear medicine imaging procedure used to localize a tumor, inflammatory process, or distribution of a radioactive tracer, with vascular flow and blood pool imaging included if performed; this is a diagnostic nuclear medicine service typically performed in an outpatient imaging center, hospital radiology department, or nuclear medicine suite and represents imaging of a single anatomic area (for example head, neck, chest, or pelvis) or a single acquisition on one day.

    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.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 78803 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 78803 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

    Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 7

    Explore openpayer tools

    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
    • Reimbursement RatesCommercial vs. Medicare rate reports
    • Facility ComparisonBeds, revenue & payer mix
    • ProvidersHospitals & facilities
    • PayersPlans & market footprint
    • Taxonomy CodesNUCC specialty codes
    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
    • Prior AuthorizationPA policies by payer & drug
    • Timely FilingFiling deadlines by payer
    • Coverage CriteriaMedical necessity by payer
    • Payer ContactsClaims, PA & appeals contacts
    View all tools

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 64-year-old patient with a history of treated prostate cancer presents with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and focal pelvic pain. The referring oncologist orders single–day SPECT imaging of the pelvis using a tumor-seeking radiotracer to localize suspected recurrent disease and to evaluate tracer distribution and regional blood pool. The patient arrives to the nuclear medicine outpatient suite. The technologist confirms identity, obtains IV access, administers the radiopharmaceutical, and documents time of injection. Vascular flow images are obtained immediately if requested; blood pool imaging is performed as part of the same single–day acquisition. After an appropriate uptake interval, SPECT imaging of the pelvis is performed on the gamma camera with the patient positioned supine. Images are reconstructed and reviewed by the interpreting physician (nuclear medicine or radiology) who generates a diagnostic report noting focal tracer uptake suspicious for recurrent tumor versus post-treatment changes. The study may be scheduled in the outpatient hospital imaging department, freestanding imaging center, or in a clinic-based nuclear medicine suite. Billing captures a single–day, single-area SPECT study using 78803 with documentation of injection time, acquisition details, and the interpreting physician’s report.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78803Single–day SPECT imaging of a single area (single acquisition)Primary code for single–day single-area SPECT; used to report the study described above
    78306Therapeutic radiopharmaceutical localization or imaging, multiple areas, planarPlanar or whole-body imaging that may be performed before or after SPECT for broader distribution assessment
    78830SPECT, single area, multiple day (theranostic or delayed imaging)Used when imaging requires delayed or multi-day acquisitions rather than single–day single acquisition
    78014Thyroid uptake and imaging with uptake measurementExample of another nuclear medicine single-area study; may be part of differential or separate evaluation
    77336Radiation treatment device custom block, complex 3-D conformal planning (included as related oncology workflow)Administrative/therapeutic code occasionally performed in the broader oncologic care pathway after localization imaging

    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…
    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…
    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…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    364S00000X
    261QU0200X
    282E00000X
    102L00000X
    207UN0902X
    2080P0214X
    2251C2600X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    B37.9Candidiasis, unspecified
    C71.9Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified
    C79.31Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain
    D49.3Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of breast
    D49.7Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of endocrine glands and other parts of nervous system
    G40.909Epilepsy, unspecified, not intractable, without status epilepticus
    G93.40Encephalopathy, unspecified
    H35.30Unspecified macular degeneration
    I63.9Cerebral infarction, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    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-78800-PLANAR-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-SINGLE-AREA-TUMOR-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78800: Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging, Single Area

    CPT-78801-MULTI-DAY-MULTI-AREA-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-IMAGING

    CPT 78801: Multi-Day/Multi-Area Nuclear Medicine Tumor Localization

    CPT-78802-WHOLE-BODY-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-IMAGING

    CPT 78802: Whole-Body Nuclear Medicine Imaging for Tumor/Inflammation Localization

    CPT-78804-MULTIDAY-WHOLE-BODY-NUCLEAR-IMAGING-GAMMA-TRACER

    CPT 78804: Whole-Body Nuclear Medicine Imaging, Multi-Day

    CPT-78808-RADIOTRACER-INJECTION-GAMMA-PROBE-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78808: Radioguided Localization with Intravenous Radiotracer

    CPT-78811-TARGETED-PET-LOCALIZED-BODY-REGION

    CPT 78811: PET, limited area imaging

    CPT-78812-FDG-PET-BODY-IMAGING-FOR-ONCOLOGIC-EVALUATION

    CPT 78812: FDG PET Imaging for Detection of Malignant Tumors

    CPT-78813-WHOLE-BODY-PET

    CPT 78813: PET Whole Body Scan

    CPT-78814-PET-CT-TUMOR-LOCALIZATION-METABOLIC-EVALUATION

    CPT 78814: PET/CT Tumor Localization and Metabolic Imaging

    CPT-78815-PET-CT-TUMOR-IMAGING-ANATOMICAL-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78815: PET/CT Tumor Imaging with Anatomical Localization

    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.
    Published by

    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    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.