CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
73030 — Radiologic examination, shoulder; minimum 2 views
An X-ray of the shoulder joint taken from at least two angles to evaluate fractures, dislocations, arthritis, or other shoulder injuries and conditions.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center, urgent care
- National avg charge (illustrative): $35–$80 Medicare allowed; $50–$200 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing both 73030 (shoulder, minimum 2 views) and 73010 (scapula) separately without verifying that distinct clinical indications exist for each study
What it means
What 73030 actually means
An X-ray of the shoulder joint taken from at least two angles to evaluate fractures, dislocations, arthritis, or other shoulder injuries and conditions. It is a routine first-line imaging test for shoulder pain or injury.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Billing both 73030 (shoulder, minimum 2 views) and 73010 (scapula) separately without verifying that distinct clinical indications exist for each study
- Failing to append laterality modifiers (RT or LT) — payers require laterality modifiers for shoulder X-rays
- Billing modifier 50 (bilateral) for shoulder X-rays when only one shoulder was imaged — bilateral billing requires documentation that both shoulders were examined
If you see 73030 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 73030 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
70470 — CT head/brain with and without contrast
If contrast wasn't given, 70470 is the wrong code.
CPT
70486 — CT maxillofacial area; without contrast material
Imaging — verify professional + technical components weren't double-billed.
CPT
70551 — MRI brain without contrast
Same scan can be 5x cheaper at a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71045 — Chest X-ray, single view
Same image can cost 10x more at a hospital than a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71046 — Chest X-ray, two views (PA + lateral)
Two-view CXR is standard. Watch the price gap between hospital and freestanding.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 73030 on a bill.
73030 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 73030 usually cost?
$35–$80 Medicare allowed; $50–$200 commercial; varies by region. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 73030?
Billing both 73030 (shoulder, minimum 2 views) and 73010 (scapula) separately without verifying that distinct clinical indications exist for each study
What should I do if I see 73030 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 73030 before paying.
Don't pay 73030 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.