CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
73221 — MRI, any joint of upper extremity; without contrast material
An MRI of any upper extremity joint (shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand joints) performed without contrast dye, providing detailed images of cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and bone.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center
- National avg charge (illustrative): $200–$500 Medicare allowed; $350–$1,200 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 73221 (upper extremity joint, without contrast) when 73223 (without and with contrast) was actually performed
What it means
What 73221 actually means
An MRI of any upper extremity joint (shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand joints) performed without contrast dye, providing detailed images of cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and bone. It is commonly used to evaluate rotator cuff tears, ligament injuries, and joint inflammation.
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 73221 (upper extremity joint, without contrast) when 73223 (without and with contrast) was actually performed
- Billing 73221 for a general upper extremity MRI that is not centered on a specific joint — non-joint upper extremity MRI uses 73218
- Missing laterality modifier — payers require RT or LT modifier for all extremity MRI codes
If you see 73221 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 73221 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 73221 on a bill.
73221 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 73221 usually cost?
$200–$500 Medicare allowed; $350–$1,200 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 73221?
Billing 73221 (upper extremity joint, without contrast) when 73223 (without and with contrast) was actually performed
What should I do if I see 73221 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 73221 before paying.
Don't pay 73221 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.