Does CPT code 71046 need a modifier?


Editorial team Published on

Whether CPT code 71046 (two-view chest X-ray) needs a modifier depends entirely on where the service is performed and who is billing for it.

When a Modifier is NOT Needed

  • Global Service: If your private practice or facility owns the X-ray equipment and your own provider interprets the image, you bill 71046 as a global service with no modifier.

When Modifiers ARE Needed (Split Billing)

If the technical and professional parts of the service are split between different entities, you must use a modifier:

  • Modifier -26 (Professional Component): Use this if a radiologist or physician only interprets the X-ray and writes the report, but an outside facility or hospital owns the equipment.
  • Modifier -TC (Technical Component): Use this if you are billing only for the equipment, supplies, and technician's work to capture the image, while an outside provider bills separately for the reading.

Other Special Modifiers

  • Modifier -59 (Distinct Procedural Service): Use if 71046 is performed on the same day as another separate, non-overlapping radiological procedure with a distinct clinical indication.
  • Modifier -GC: Use if the service is performed by a resident under the supervision of an attending physician in a teaching hospital setting.