Imaging studies like X-rays are highly prevalent and significant in orthopedic practices. In fact, surveys have shown that 88% of the patients are radiographed before their orthopedic office visit. X-ray imaging is successful in revealing a range of issues in bones, joints, and surrounding structures. That’s why, to diagnose conditions, diseases, and disorders affecting the hip joint and bone, orthopedics often order a hip X-ray with multiple views, and CPT 73502 is also one of the codes that cover this imaging procedure.
In today’s detailed guide, we will discuss the specifics of CPT code 73502, including its descriptor, usage examples, applicable modifiers, and billing best practices. So, let’s start.
CPT Code 73502 – Description
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 73502 is from the ‘Diagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging) Procedures of the Lower Extremities’ code range as maintained by the American Medical Association. It represents a unilateral hip X-ray where the radiologist images the right or left hip, including pelvis, from 2 to 3 different angles.
The purpose of this radiologic examination is to diagnose a range of conditions, including fractures, dislocations, degenerative disorders, and infections.
Note that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has assigned code 73502 status code ‘A’ in its 2025 National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File, meaning that it covers the unilateral hip X-ray for Medicare beneficiaries.
Scenarios Where CPT Code 73502 is Applicable
Still confused about CPT 73502’s accurate usage? Read the following clinical scenarios for clarity.
Acute Trauma or Injury
Imagine that a patient is brought to the emergency department after he fell from his motorbike. The patient complains of severe pain in his right hip, and he is unable to stand, especially on his right leg. The attending physician suspects that the patient has either dislocated his right hip or fractured it. To confirm or rule out his suspicion, he orders an X-ray of the right hip with front-to-back (anterior-posterior or AP) and side (lateral) views. The radiologist performs the diagnostic imaging procedure and reports it with CPT code 73502. The X-ray results reveal an intertrochanteric fracture.
Pain and Suspected Arthritis
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, is most common in adults who are 45 and older. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 33 million adults in the country have osteoarthritis. X-rays are one of the most effective diagnostic tools for detecting osteoarthritis.
So, let’s assume that a 62-year-old woman visits her physician complaining of pain and stiffness in her left hip. She experiences difficulty while walking, and the symptoms have worsened since the beginning of winter. Based on her age and family history, the physician suspects osteoarthritis in her left hip joint. He orders a unilateral X-ray with 3 views. The radiologist performs the service and reports it with CPT code 73502. The imaging results reveal joint space narrowing, suggesting damaged articular cartilage in the hip joint.
Post-Surgical Follow-Up
For our last scenario, let’s imagine that a patient who underwent an Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) of a hip fracture three months ago returns for a follow-up appointment. The orthopedic surgeon wants to assess the hardware’s performance and the healing of the surgical site. So, he orders an X-ray of the right hip with 3 views. The diagnostic center performs the radiologic examination and reports the service with CPT code 73502. The physician interprets the X-ray results and notices callus formation and mineralization, which indicate that the fracture is healing.
Applicable Modifiers for CPT Code 73502
Modifiers are 2-digit codes that are added to the primary procedural code to provide supplemental information about the service/procedure, such as who performed the procedure and on what side of the body. When used correctly, modifiers may impact the final reimbursement rate. The following are some of the modifiers that are typically appended to CPT code 73502:
Modifier 26
Modifier 26 denotes the professional component of a service or procedure. You should append it to CPT 73502 when the physician (an orthopedist) bills for the interpretation of the X-ray results and the preparation of a report. In other words, he is claiming reimbursement for his part of the service.
Modifier TC
In contrast, modifier TC highlights the technical component of a service. Facilities are required to append modifier TC to the procedural code when billing only for equipment use, supplies, and the technician’s services. So, you should append modifier TC to CPT code 73502 if you are a radiology center and claiming reimbursement for the technical component of a unilateral hip X-ray.
Modifier LT
Modifiers RT and LT are laterality modifiers and highlight which side of the body the procedure was performed on. Specifically, modifier LT represents that the procedure was performed on the left side of the body/anatomic structure. So, append modifier LT to CPT code 73502 if the X-ray was performed on the left hip.
Modifier RT
However, if the X-ray with 2 to 3 views was performed on the right hip, then append modifier RT to the code.
CPT Code 73502 – Billing & Reimbursement Guidelines
Do you want your claims to be accepted on the first try? Then follow these billing tips and collect the correct reimbursement amount for CPT code 73502 on time.
Ensure Accurate Use of 73502
When it comes to reporting hip X-rays, the most common mistake that billers make is selecting the wrong code. Billers often use a bilateral hip X-ray code when the diagnostic imaging procedure was only performed on one hip. Or they report a code for 4 or more views when the radiologist only took 2 views.
Therefore, to prevent incorrect code selection and resulting denials, it is imperative to understand the differences between hip X-ray CPT codes and what each code specifically covers. Here is a breakdown:
- CPT code 73501: Unilateral hip X-ray, 1 view, including pelvis
- CPT code 73502: Unilateral hip X-ray, 2 to 3 views, including pelvis
- CPT code 73503: Unilateral hip X-ray, 4 or more views, including pelvis
- CPT code 73521: Bilateral hip X-ray, 2 views, including pelvis
- CPT code 73522: Bilateral hip X-ray, 3 to 4 views, including pelvis
- CPT code 73523: Bilateral hip X-ray, 5 or more views, including pelvis
Pair with the Appropriate ICD-10 Codes
Insurance payers, be it government or commercial, have the right to deny your claim if the service was medically unnecessary. Therefore, to justify the medical necessity of a unilateral hip X-ray with 2 to 3 views, you must include the appropriate ICD-10 diagnosis codes on your claim form. Some of the ICD-10-CM codes that support the use of CPT code 73502 are:
- M25.551: Pain in right hip
- M25.552: Pain in left hip
- M84.459: Pathological fracture, hip, unspecified
- M16.11: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right hip
- M16.12: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left hip
- M16.3: Unilateral osteoarthritis resulting from hip dysplasia
Append Modifiers When Needed
As we have mentioned before, modifiers are an essential coding tool when you want to specify the circumstances in which a procedure was performed. Missing or incorrect modifiers trigger denials or can cause payment reductions. So, make sure that you use the TC modifier if you are billing on behalf of a facility, or the 26 modifier if you are billing for the physician’s X-ray results interpretation and reporting. Also, if the payer mandates it, use the laterality modifiers LT and RT to specify the imaged hip.
Provide Comprehensive Documentation
Insurance payers also ask for detailed documentation as proof of the medical necessity of your service. They want you to attach it to the claim form as supporting evidence. So, your documentation for the unilateral hip X-ray (covered by CPT code 73502) should include:
- The patient’s complete medical record
- The patient’s current condition and symptoms
- The hip, left or right, which was imaged
- The number and type of views (e.g., 2 views: posteroanterior and lateral)
- Image results and radiologic report
- Physician’s report and signature
- Provider details (physician and facility information)
Please note that according to CMS’s guidelines, the qualification of the supervising physician should be a board-certified radiologist or orthopedic surgeon, and the technician should be a general radiographer or medical physicist for the CPT code 73502 to be valid. So, ensure that your documentation underscores the providers’ qualifications.
Confirm the Medicare Reimbursement Rate
While every insurance payer has set its own reimbursement rate for the unilateral hip X-ray with 2 to 3 views, Medicare’s national average fee for CPT code 73502 is $46.26 in a facility setting. However, this rate varies based on the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) locality and modifier usage.
The national average reimbursement rate for 73502 with the TC modifier is:
- Facility Price: Not applicable
- Non-facility Price: $35.90
The national average reimbursement rate for 73502 with modifier 26 is:
- Facility Price: $10.35
- Non-Facility Price: $10.35
You can use the CMS’s PFS Lookup Tool to check the reimbursement rate for CPT code 73502 in your MAC locality.
Follow Payer-Specific Guidelines
Don’t assume that every insurance payer will have the same policies for coding and billing. While general guidelines may be the same, when it comes to procedural codes, every payer will have its own dos and don’ts. So, make sure that you thoroughly review the payer’s policy manual before reporting CPT code 73502 and submitting the claim.
For example, while some payers like Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Medicare do not want you to use LT and RT modifiers, some payers may require them for coding specificity. So, carefully check all rules and requirements.
Final Word
This brings us to the end of our guide on CPT code 73502. We discussed that this code reports a unilateral X-ray of the hip (left or right) with 2 to 3 views. Several clinical situations may necessitate the need for this diagnostic imaging procedure, such as to detect a hip fracture or dislocation, to confirm or rule out hip osteoarthritis, or for follow-up after hip surgery.
Hopefully, the information presented in this guide will help you to report this with code confidence. However, medical coding can be cognitively demanding even for the most seasoned billers. Therefore, we suggest outsourcing radiology billing services to a reliable third-party vendor. Such firms employ certified professional coders (CPCs) who ensure that your claims are accepted on the first try.
