CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
73560 — Radiologic examination, knee; 1 or 2 views
An X-ray of the knee joint taken from one or two angles to evaluate fractures, swelling, or the source of knee pain.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center, urgent care
- National avg charge (illustrative): $30–$70 Medicare allowed; $45–$180 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: View-count upcoding: billing 73562 (3 views) or 73564 (4+ views) when only 1-2 views were obtained
What it means
What 73560 actually means
An X-ray of the knee joint taken from one or two angles to evaluate fractures, swelling, or the source of knee pain. It is a first-line imaging study for knee complaints and acute knee injuries.
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).
- View-count upcoding: billing 73562 (3 views) or 73564 (4+ views) when only 1-2 views were obtained
- Billing bilateral knee X-ray code (73565, standing) together with a unilateral code (73560) when CCI edits prohibit this combination
- Missing laterality modifier (RT/LT) for unilateral knee X-ray claims
If you see 73560 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 73560 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 73560 on a bill.
73560 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 73560 usually cost?
$30–$70 Medicare allowed; $45–$180 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 73560?
View-count upcoding: billing 73562 (3 views) or 73564 (4+ views) when only 1-2 views were obtained
What should I do if I see 73560 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 73560 before paying.
Don't pay 73560 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.